Director of Economic Justice

POSITION: Director of Economic Justice

LOCATION: Ron Olson Justice Center*

SALARY: $157,000 – $170,000/ DOE with excellent benefits

AVAILABILITY: Immediately

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Continuous until position is filled.

Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you!

The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. With more than 90 years of service, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 80 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact health, safety, and self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org.

The Position: The Director of Economic Justice will oversee our legal services, advocacy, and policy work on behalf of our client communities, including veterans, immigrants, non-English speakers, domestic violence survivors, patients with LAFLA’s healthcare partners, and the formerly incarcerated or those with past contact with the criminal justice system. The Director will lead a group of talented, resourceful, and mission-driven Managing Attorneys who are dedicated to empowering low-income. If you seek to use your legal training to address and challenge policies and practices that contribute to economic injustice and are passionate about working with a dynamic and talented team of changemakers, then we encourage you to apply.

QUALIFICATIONS:

???? Active membership in the California State Bar;

???? Previous supervisory experience and work experience in legal services;

???? Minimum ten (10) years’ experience in the practice of law, including broad experience in lawyering skills, including client interviewing, legal research, writing, drafting, negotiation, law and motion and discovery techniques, and trial and appellate work; Have excellent legal writing, litigation and advocacy skills;

???? The ability to engender confidence and trust;

???? A management style that inspires and encourages professional growth in others;

???? An understanding of the civil equal justice legal needs of low-income people, including the unique needs of populations that experience particular barriers to access to justice, and ability to identify systems, and effective approaches and methods for addressing those needs;

???? A strong work ethic and commitment to working as a team;

???? Ability to work cooperatively with staff effectively at all levels of LAFLA;

???? Knowledge of advanced principles of administration and supervision;

???? Ability to effectively communicate, to motivate others, and to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people with varying perspectives, experience and expertise, and demonstrated cultural competence with client communities;

???? Initiative, creativity and problem-solving abilities; not averse to risk, and able to embrace change and uncertainty;

???? Excellent administrative and organizational skills, and able to learn and integrate new technologies and methodologies to efficiently perform responsibilities; and

???? Ability to administer grants and work with Development and Finance staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

???? Serve as Director of Economic Justice mentoring and supervising 8 Managing Attorneys in various substantive legal areas;

Director of Economic Justice- 2023 *Assigned location is subject to change during course of employment.

???? Work with the Managing Attorneys to monitor caseloads and legal work of attorneys to ensure proper balance between direct service to individual clients and advocacy involving systemic issues that benefit the larger client populations;

???? Review significant pleadings, including complaints and briefs, on substantive issues, and co-counsel, where appropriate; Coordinate amicus briefs and preparation of semi-annual litigation docket update;

???? Develops guidelines that facilitate efficient and effective litigation; monitor litigation and training costs;

???? Acts as a catalyst for the identification of systemic issues that affect LAFLA’s clients and the development of strategic litigation and/or advocacy strategies to address them with a focus on LAFLA’s priorities;

???? In collaboration with the Director of Housing Justice, promote staff professional development and identify content areas for regular staff training;

???? Assists staff to remain current on procedural and substantive law as well as policy and research issues regarding LAFLA’s priority areas and broader issues affecting the client community, and to identify and facilitate connections across units/substantive areas;

???? Support and strengthen non-litigation advocacy projects including community legal education efforts, training and development of legal advocacy resource materials, assisting with maintaining web-based client information and advocate resource materials, client/community/program relations;

???? Collaboration with bar and court-related access to justice activities, and similar activities that promote and expand access to justice for low-income persons;

???? Ensure projects comply with grant requirements; ensure new grants are carefully vetted & coordinated with Development, Finance and Executive Director;

???? Assist advocates and work groups with resolving potential inconsistencies in client representation strategies, funding sources compliance requirements, professional responsibility and ethical obligations, and/or competing interest of client communities; co-counseling; and, otherwise serving as a resource to help advocates address client needs;

???? Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with community organizations, local bar associations, judges, social service agencies, funding sources, public officials, the media, and other individuals or groups related to the provision of legal services to the poor.

???? Facilitate the work of substantive and population-based task forces, work groups and individual advocates; coordinate with partners to develop and promote effective strategies to maximize client service delivery;

???? Assist individual advocates, and work groups, in conjunction with others as appropriate, in defining and obtaining client representational objectives, including resolving potential inconsistencies in client representation strategies, funding source compliance requirements, professional responsibility and ethical obligations, and/or competing interests of client communities; co-counseling; and, otherwise serving as a resource to help advocates address client needs; and

???? Regularly assess client representation and advocacy activities to ensure the most effective, efficient, and economical use of program resources consistent with the program mission.

HOW TO APPLY – Please submit a cover letter and resume online to [email protected]. Include “Director of Economic Justice” in the subject line.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD – A one-year introductory period will be required.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER – Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, general, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status.

The company is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to require an accommodation if hired, please contact [email protected].

VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS – LAFLA requires all staff, including new hires, to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (i.e., at least 2 weeks after last dose) and have received at least one COVID-19 booster shot. If hired, all employees must present proof of vaccination by their start date.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION – LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Eligible employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles