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Post-Graduate Law Fellow, Eviction Defense Project

For over 50 years, Bet Tzedek Legal Services has provided high-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles' most vulnerable residents. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek is seeking a post-graduate law fellow to join our Eviction Defense Project (EDP). The project fights to eliminate homelessness by providing litigation-based direct services to residential tenants in Los Angeles County facing eviction or other rental housing disputes. EDP is part of the Right to Counsel Coalition and Stay Housed L.A. initiative.

The law fellowship will be a two-year program focused on teaching a new attorney how to litigate in civil court on behalf of tenants, with the opportunity for eligible fellows to apply for open attorney positions towards the end of the fellowship. The salary extended is dependent on the candidate's bar admittance status at the time an offer of employment is provided.

This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services' hybrid/remote workplace designation. While the primary workplace is Bet Tzedek's offices, at the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be permitted to work remotely or may be required to work in other locations depending on workload/business obligations. Candidates must be located in the Southern California region and able to commute if needed.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Under the supervision of an attorney, litigate landlord-tenant/eviction cases including interview clients, draft affirmative and responsive court forms, pleadings, motions, briefs, and correspondence; engage in discovery practice and assist in settlement negotiations, trial preparation and court appearances;
• Under the supervision of an attorney, advocate on behalf of clients on a wide variety of housing-related legal issues beyond unlawful detainer cases, including housing discrimination, substandard housing conditions, unlawful rent increases and other issues impacting clients' ability to obtain and maintain housing;
• Assist with trainings, know-your-rights presentations, clinic and/or outreach events on issues related to housing to staff, partners, and community members as needed (virtually and, to the extent appropriate and permissible, in-person);
• Work on policy issues related to housing; and
• Other assignments as deemed appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Law School graduate (required);
• Ability to work in a fast paced, high-volume environment (required);
• Non-profit legal services experience (strongly preferred);
• Ease with oral and written communication in both English and Spanish (strongly preferred);
• Work well as part of a team, but also self-motivated and able to work independently with appropriate level of supervision (required);
• Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Bet Tzedek's mission of equal justice for all and Bet Tzedek's core values of leadership, community-based advocacy, and innovation (required); and
• Demonstrated commitment to applying principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in performance of job duties (required).

Salary

$70,304.00 (Unbarred), $82,400.00 (Barred)

Benefits

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

• A generous number of paid holidays, vacation, and sick days annually.
• Personal and floating holidays.
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
• Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
• Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
• Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.