Description

Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area within department which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following tasks:

The Lead Attorney for JDC's Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) is one of several attorneys on the JDC staff reporting directly to the Director/Managing Attorney of Pro Bono Legal Services. Each of these lead or supervising attorneys administers and coordinates a specific project. The TAP Lead Attorney position requires a deep and specific knowledge of landlord-tenant law as well as a broad understanding of real estate law, poverty law, family law, trusts and estates, and tort and contract law. Responsibilities include: reviewing the merits of potential client cases; advocating for tenants in pre-eviction disputes with landlords, master tenants, building management, neighbors, and roommates regarding issues relating to rent, habitability, and other matters; providing limited-scope consults at 3 JDC Legal Advice and Referral Clinics per month; resolving client problems and complaints; entering data; grant reporting; updating and developing relevant portions of JDC's website; collaborating with community based organizations and with other JDC projects; and conducting community outreach. May involve training and supervising a Client Advocate when such staffing is available. May involve working with volunteer attorneys

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains a system for intake and representation of low-income clients with landlord-tenant and housing law matters
• Depending on staffing, may train and supervise a Client Advocate, Volunteer, or Fellow.
• Evaluates matters for purposes of issue spotting and placement
• Provides ongoing legal assistance and representation to clients in pre-eviction disputes (no litigation in court, advocacy only)
• Collaborates with community-based organizations to provide legal and non-legal services to low-income clients with landlord/tenant and housing issues
• May place matters with volunteer attorneys
• May develop and update attorney trainings and materials for trainings in landlord-tenant for volunteer attorneys
• May supervise volunteer attorneys
• Assists Director/Managing Attorney and Development Department staff in preparing regular proposals and reports to grant providers, funders, and other organizations that provide monetary and non-monetary support
• Represents JDC at community meetings as requested by JDC's Director/Managing Attorney of Pro Bono Legal Services or Executive Director
• May prepare article for publication regarding TAP, volunteers and clients
• Attends 3 Legal Advice and Referral Clinics per month, providing limited-scope consults in landlord/tenant issues
• Performs own clerical work

Education & Experience Requirement

• Must be a member of the California State Bar in good standing
• Must have at least 5 years of landlord-tenant legal experience
• Experience representing low-income clients is preferable

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Requirement

• Knowledge of and experience in landlord-tenant law
• Demonstrate consistent and effective management of projects
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills
• Possess ability to make quick decisions, and good judgment
• Possess ability to work on several tasks simultaneously, and handle a high volume of activity
• Demonstrate a measurable commitment to assisting disadvantaged communities
• Bilingual skill in Spanish, Mandarin or Cantonese is preferable

Working Conditions

Offices located in downtown San Francisco. An essential aspect of this position is to provide landlord/tenant consults at our Legal Advice and Referral Clinics, which are located offsite. Otherwise, the Lead Attorney for TAP should be in the office during normal business hours at least 2 days a week and may work remotely during business hours on other weekdays. There is significant computer and telephone use.