Director of Housing & Homelessness Prevention

Change Lives and Transform Communities – Come Lead Our Housing Department!

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) provides free assistance to over 160,000 individuals and families each year through innovative projects that expand access to justice. We see the law as a powerful tool for social change and we’re looking for passionate individuals to help us fight for justice.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences, and we believe that a strong community is built through inclusivity. NLSLA is proud to foster an environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and abilities, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

The Director of Housing and Homelessness Prevention is responsible for helping create and execute NLSLA’s vision for how to secure, preserve, and obtain affordable housing for vulnerable Angelenos. This leader oversees the supervising attorneys of the Stay Housed LA, Lawyers Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project (PEHP), and Shriver Housing Project-LA teams. The Director will represent NLSLA at Stay Housed leadership meetings collaborate with stakeholders (community partners, pro bono providers, governmental agencies, and other legal service providers), monitor housing grant compliance and deliverables, and provide opportunities to housing advocates for professional development.

The Director is responsible for monitoring issues affecting low-income individuals and families with an eye toward identifying opportunities for systemic advocacy, including impact litigation and policy advocacy, and participates in those efforts as appropriate.

The Director of Housing & Homelessness Prevention is a member of the Senior Management Team and reports to the Legal Director. This position is full-time and exempt.

• Oversee housing advocacy, leading supervisors and staff attorneys to pursue all aspects of housing litigation, administrative hearing representation, and other administrative advocacy.
• Maintain expertise on a range of housing issues affecting low-income individuals.
• Oversee the supervisors of the Stay Housed LA, PEHP, and Shriver Housing Project-LA teams, providing support, mentorship and guidance.
• Provide formal trainings on housing law to NLSLA advocates and pro bono partners.
• Support NLSLA housing attorneys as needed (for example, consulting on cases, accompanying less-experienced attorneys to court, and serving as a second chair at trial).
• Engage in outreach and education to tenant and community groups.
• Manage NLSLA’s Stay Housed contract.
• Participate as a member of NLSLA’s Senior Team to help guide and implement the program’s vision and priorities.

• A JD from an accredited law school and an active California State Bar license.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of prior experience working on housing issues, and particularly those that impact low-income tenants and unhoused individuals.
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory and/or leadership experience.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Passion for NLSLA’s mission and a demonstrated commitment to advocating for the legal rights of low-income individuals.
• Patience and sensitivity for people who have experienced trauma or are in crisis situations.
• Knowledge of MS Office, Windows, business communication platforms, and web-based case management platforms.

• Have previous experience working in a legal aid or public interest law organization.
• Have experience in a senior leadership role, demonstrating the ability to engage in a high-level strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
• Have experience as a senior attorney, managing complex legal matters and mentoring junior attorneys.
• Are bilingual in Spanish, due to the high number of Spanish-speaking residents in the community, or in any of the other Los Angeles threshold languages, which is highly valued in our community outreach efforts.
• Have experience conducting jury trials.
  ** Miles**
• Have worked with the City of Los Angeles, or the County of Los Angeles, or the Los Angeles Superior Court.

At NLSLA, we believe in supporting our staff as they…