Homeowner Protection Directing Attorney

About the position

For over 50 years, Bet Tzedek Legal Services has provided high-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents. Bet Tzedek seeks a Homeowner Protection Directing Attorney to lead a practice group focused on preventing low-income and senior homeowners from losing their homes and falling into homelessness. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and entrepreneurial individual to leverage Bet Tzedek’s existing expertise in real estate litigation, elder financial abuse, and consumer protection to further build a comprehensive homeowner protection program. The Homeowner Protection Team works closely with our broader Elder Justice teams to provide holistic services and programming related to estate and end of life planning to preserve intergenerational wealth and stability in underserved communities across Los Angeles. The Homeowner Protection Directing Attorney will directly manage a team of 5-6 staff members, as well as partner with other program staff, pro bono attorneys, volunteers, and partner organizations to develop and implement legal service solutions for homeowners at risk of losing ownership or equity to their homes, including homeowners adversely affected by natural disasters.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with VP Legal, Associate VP of Housing, Grants Team, fellow Directing Attorneys, program staff, and external partners to develop and implement all aspects of the program.
• Supervise intake, case management, client representation by staff attorneys and support staff, including conducting case reviews, assigning cases and tasks, and reviewing legal work.
• Identify, manage and supervise litigation opportunities for Homeowner Protection Team attorneys to vindicate client’s rights and preserve home ownership.
• Work with Impact Advocacy team to develop legislative and regulatory proposals that relate to project work.
• Work with Pro Bono Department to develop pro bono and volunteer opportunities for the program, such as clinics or individual case collaboration, as well as train and mentor pro bono attorneys and volunteers.
• Participate in program management, including the hiring and evaluation of staff and the management of Bet Tzedek’s legal services.
• Work closely with CEO, VP Legal, Associate VP of Housing and Grants Team to identify, pursue, and fulfill funding opportunities and reporting responsibilities.

Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in California (required)
• Minimum of eight (8) years related experience/practice of law (required)
• At least two (2) years of active practice of law in California immediately prior to application (preferred)
• At least five (5) year of experience in consumer civil litigation, such as in foreclosure prevention, real estate litigation, consumer protection, debt defense or other areas of homeowner protection (strongly preferred)
• Experience managing or supervising attorneys (strongly preferred)
• Experience working with pro bono volunteers (preferred)
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners (required)
• Exceptionally organized, self-motivated, and goal-oriented (required)
• 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)
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (required)

Benefits

• A generous number of paid holidays (up to 21 per year), vacation (up to 20, depending on number of years with agency), and sick days (up to 45) annually.
• Personal and floating holidays
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment.)
• Various paid leaves
• 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 401(k) plan.
• Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
• Pension Plan after 1-year of service.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.