Staff Attorney - Consumer Rights & Economic Justice

Description

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice (CREJ), Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.  

Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170 . We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

CREJ advances racial and economic justice by representing and advocating for individuals who are low-income and their families to improve their financial futures, safeguard intergenerational wealth, address systemic inequalities, and oppose the institutions and companies that take advantage of the communities we serve. Our diverse team provides direct services to low-income people in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, engages in impact litigation on consumer and civil rights issues, and advocates for laws and policies to protect consumers and the economically vulnerable at the local, state and national levels. In addition to a core group of attorneys and staff dedicated to consumer and economic justice issues, CREJ also encompasses access to justice clinics for state appellate and federal self-represented litigants. CREJ also runs Cancer Justice, a national program focused on the legal and financial impacts of cancer, particularly issues affecting economic stability and health equity.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the Staff Attorney will:

• Provide direct legal services to low-income clients, including seniors
• Develop expertise in foreclosure defense, loss mitigation, and other legal issues related to income stabilization for low-income homeowners, including debt collection and student loan matters 
• Conduct community presentations on topics including the foreclosure process, homeowners’ rights, scam avoidance, consumer debt defense, and bankruptcy
• Collaborate with community-based organizations to conduct outreach on legal services and financial relief for homeowners at greatest risk of foreclosure throughout Los Angeles, Kern, and Ventura Counties
• Staff monthly homeowner preservation clinics
• Handle individual cases and support class action litigation as appropriate
• Represent CREJ and Public Counsel in external meetings and events, including in front of funders, and speaking on behalf of the project to the media where appropriate
• Assist the Directing Attorney, Supervising Attorney, and team with occasional research and writing projects, as well as grant reporting 
• Supervise summer law clerks and other volunteers
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• 1-4 years of legal experience  
• Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of the California State Bar
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent legal research skills
• Ability to quickly assimilate complex case facts and good attention to detail
• Ability to stay organized and handle a full caseload
• Demonstrated negotiation skills
• Willingness and desire to litigate
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively 
• High levels of emotional intelligence, maturity, and cultural competency, including curiosity, self-awareness, awareness of bias, empathy, patience, listening skills, and a growth mindset
• Strong team player who is willing to pivot and pitch in as needed 
• Commitment to economic and racial justice, including participation in and advancement of equity and inclusion work at Public Counsel
• Ability to read, write, and speak fluently in Spanish desirable
• Experience in consumer law, particularly foreclosure defense, debt collection, and/or student loan matters, is highly desirable 
• Exempt employees are expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and must work all additional time necessary to accomplish job duties in a timely and professional manner. They must be flexible in work hours so as to provide superior quality and timely service to clients consistent with the position and professional responsibility obligations.  

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt 
• Salary range for an attorney with 1-4 years of experience is $78,000-$82,100, depending upon years of experience 
• Bargaining
• Probationary period: 9 months 
• Fixed-duration position funded until April 30, 2029. This position is created with designated funds through April 30, 2029. Continued employment past this date is contingent on additional funding for the position. 

 Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including: 

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage 
• Dental and vision coverage 
• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days 
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution 
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement 
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization 
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please consider discussing such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. 

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.