Supervising Attorney - Housing

San Jose, CA, United States

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (LFSV) invites attorneys with a strong commitment to social justice and advancing the rights of underrepresented individuals in Santa Clara County to apply for the Supervising Attorney position on our Housing team. Applicants should have experience managing direct service client caseloads, impact litigation, and advocacy work. This is a flexible, hybrid position with an expectation to be in the office 2+ days per week.

Who We Are

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley advances the rights of historically excluded individuals and families across Santa Clara County through legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach. We serve over 10,000 individuals and families each year through our Housing Program, Children & Youth Program, and Health Program. Our attorneys, social workers, and advocates use legal advocacy as a tool for social change by crafting inventive solutions to the legal issues facing low-income people in our region.

With a staff of 90 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Our work is collaborative and meaningful and includes plenty of opportunities for professional growth. As a staff, we actively engage in discussions about race, equity, and inclusion, and are actively working towards a Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-centered legal services practice that incorporates community and movement lawyering.

What You’ll Do

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is seeking a full-time Supervising Attorney for its Housing Department. The Supervising Attorney will supervise a team of attorneys and advocates in preventing the displacement of low-income individuals and communities of color through direct legal services, including unlawful detainer defense, and system change work, including impact litigation and policy advocacy. This role will require direct service and systematic advocacy work. The Supervising Attorney will report to the Directing Attorney and will work closely and collaboratively with the other Supervising Attorney and Supervising Community Housing Advocate.

Primary Duties

Supervision of all housing work, including unlawful detainer defense

Hiring, training, mentoring, and professional development of staff

Collaborate with other Law Foundation team members to assist with program design, development, oversight, and administration of the Housing Department

Manage the Law Foundation’s systemic change efforts in the housing context, including policy advocacy and impact litigation

Direct representation of clients in unlawful detainer, affirmative, or impact litigation

Support program and organization-wide initiatives, including race equity

Oversee and participate in education and outreach to community about legal issues confronted by low-income tenants

Train and establish training protocols for attorneys

Advance a community lawyering strategy in the housing practice

Develop and maintain public relations with government agencies, decision-makers, and the community

Oversee and manage contracts

Assist with supervision of other units as needed

Provide support to pro bono attorneys and the pro bono housing program

Participate in fundraising activities including events and grant writing and reporting

Who You Are

This role is a good fit for you if you have:

Deep commitment to and passion for the vision and mission of the Law Foundation

Minimum of five years of experience in public interest law or advocacy services

Legal supervision experience

Litigation experience, specifically unlawful detainer defense experience

Experience in policy advocacy

Experience managing and assigning work to a team

Ability to effectively supervise legal work in a fast-paced and high-volume environment

Ability to effectively develop a team and collaborate with other entities, both internal and external to the Law Foundation

Ability to work with community-based organizations, government agencies, and decision-makers such as City Council

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create a culture of feedback and continual improvement

Experience in community lawyering and willingness to incorporate community lawyering into the housing practice

Commitment to Race Equity work and incorporating race equity principles into systemic change work

Demonstrated commitment and ability to work with underrepresented communities, including people living with mental health disabilities, HIV/AIDS, or other disabilities and clients of diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds

Strong organizational skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

California Bar Membership or ability to practice law in California

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of relevant state and federal constitutional and civil rights laws

The ability to manage a litigation docket effectively and lead a litigation team

Bilingual capabilities (Spanish or Vietnamese and English)

What We Offer

The salary scale for this position is $115,000 – $128,000/year with generous benefits, including:

19 paid holidays per year

3-5 weeks of vacation per year

12 days of sick leave per year

A paid lunch break

Up to 6 months of parental leave

Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums

A robust Employee Assistance Program that includes free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents

A 401(k)-retirement plan with employer contributions

A sabbatical after 5 years of employment

An annual budget for professional development

The option to work a hybrid schedule

Location

Law Foundation is a hybrid workplace and staff will be required to commute to our San Jose offices 2+ days per week. If staff can meet the requirements above, including commuting at their own expense, staff may live anywhere in California. Due to logistical challenges regarding taxes, insurance, and time zones, we are not able to consider staff in other states at this time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Law Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. We encourage people of color, womxn, people living with disabilities, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to apply. It is the policy of the Law Foundation to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. The Law Foundation will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

ADA Accessible Facility - Equal Opportunity Employer - Drug-Free Workplace

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