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Position Title & Department:

 Housing Rights Legal Clinic Staff Attorney; Legal Clinics Posting #

5670

Department Description: USD School of Law is one of the 84 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school's faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks in the top 20% (36th out of 204) among U.S. law schools in scholarly impact according to a 2018 study. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949. University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity's urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

This is a full-time temporary, benefit-based position with an anticipated end date of December 31, 2027. The appointment is renewable at the discretion of the University and dependent upon performance and continued funding.

The overall purpose of the Housing Rights Legal Clinic Staff Attorney ("Staff Attorney") position is to provide direct client representation, case management, and legal intern supervision for the University of San Diego Legal Clinics program (a working law office). The University of San Diego Legal Clinics program provides upper division law students with the opportunity to use learned skills under the supervision of a practicing attorney while representing real clients. The Staff Attorney has shared responsibility with the clinic professors and staff for overall case management and risk management in the Legal Clinics. The Staff Attorney will be assigned a reasonable caseload consisting of housing rights cases as part of the Housing Rights Legal Clinic.

The Housing Rights Legal Clinic ("HRLC") is designed to address legal issues causing housing instability. The HRLC provides full-scope legal representation, including eviction defense and other tenant rights assistance in landlord-tenant disputes. The HRLC also provides legal services to enforce tenants' rights, including habitability, anti-harassment, and retaliation laws, prevent unfair debt collection practices, and seek relief for wrongful convictions. In addition to eviction defense, the HRLC offers advise and consultation, mediation, training, renter education, and advocacy. Finally, the clinic seeks to increase affordable housing, ensure receipt of eligible income or benefits to improve housing stability, and render legal help for persons displaced because of domestic violence.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Client Cases

• Maintain a reasonable individual caseload of client cases providing direct client contact and support, representing and advocating on behalf of clients, and consulting with supervising attorneys to determine appropriate legal strategy to best assist assigned clients.
• Help supervise the Eviction Negotiation Program, an onsite legal service at the Court and County Law Library, that provides negotiation assistance to in pro per tenants facing trial on the same day.

Law Office Management and Operations

• Provide secondary supervision for paralegals, support staff, and legal interns.
  • Develop orientation and other training programs for legal interns.
  • Supervise and evaluate substantive casework provided by legal interns.
• Administrative/operational supervision of Legal Clinics program.
  • Monitor law office procedures, including opening and closing cases, record-keeping, and file maintenance.
  • Provide for the continuous representation of clients during non-academic periods when law students are not available.

Grant Application and Administration

• Assist Professor of Practice to complete annual grant applications and other reporting requirements.
  • Organize case data for reporting and publicity.
  • Compile and submit interim and annual reports as required by grantors.
  • Analyze and report year-to-year trends in case management.
  • Monitor case diversity.

Outreach & Education

• Coordinate, develop and provide educational outreach presentations in both English and Spanish at schools, cities, and community partners' events throughout San Diego County.
• Identify and engage new community partners to increase the referral network for eligible program clients.
• Create and distribute informational handouts and posters for clients to community partners.
• Coordinate continuing education (MCLE) events at the USD Legal Clinics.

Additional Responsibilities         

• Review and analyze proposed legislation and regulatory policies affecting housing rights, access to housing, affordable housing, and fair housing issues.
• Other tasks as required/assigned.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Current membership in good standing in the California State Bar

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Must be able to travel as needed

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes. 

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. degree
• Active membership in the California State Bar (in good standing)
• One year of experience practicing law in housing rights or eviction defense
• Familiarity with computerized case management systems for legal practice
• Demonstrated skills in customer service, including problem-solving
• Ability to communicate effectively both in person and in writing

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience dealing with community-based organizations and volunteer groups
• Demonstrated analytical skills utilized in budgeting and grant reports
• Fluent in Spanish and English (both written and verbal)

Posting Salary:

$6,458.33 - 7,916.66 per month; Excellent Benefits
The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.  Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.  USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position.  Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions:

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers' review.  If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Additional Details:

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: Open until filled 

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.
The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.