Staff Attorney - Eviction Defense

Job Title: Eviction Defense Attorney

FLSAClassification:Exempt

Reports To: Practice Group Director

Supervises: Paralegals and Legal Secretaries as required

Compensation: $78,000.00 - $ annually

If you believe safe and habitable housing is a human right worth working for, this position in ICLS’s Housing Practice Group may be right for you.

Either through negotiation or at a trial our attorneys work to secure a client’s right to safe and habitable housing and to ensure tenants’ rights under federal and state law are upheld. This position specifically focuses on foreclosure prevention litigation, helping homeowners navigate complex title issues, loan modifications, and defending against wrongful foreclosures. The attorney may also assist with consumer protection matters directly related to home ownership preservation, including predatory lending and home equity investments scams.

Incredibly dedicated paralegals assist at ICLS’ court-based projects and support our clinic services that assist clients who need document preparation. Our housing hotlines, staffed by experienced paralegals working under an attorney’s supervision, provide real-time advice to individuals with housing related concerns. The community is rounded out by talented legal administrative support staff to help facilitate your client management and case file disposition, as well as the preparation of simple legal pleadings.

We are seeking an attorney with demonstrated housing law experience. This position is funded through an active foreclosure prevention grant and will focus primarily on preserving home ownership for residents of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The attorney will handle complex foreclosure defense cases, quiet title actions, and related consumer protection matters that threaten housing stability. Due to the specialized nature of this grant-funded work and immediate caseload demands, prior housing law experience is preferred.

This position will also collaborate closely with the Consumer Practice Group and at times report to the Consumer Practice Group Director.

The following qualities are desirable in a staff attorney:

• Community centered with willingness to learn from and work with others including an openness to share challenges and an intentional practice to express gratitude to their colleagues.

• Patience with clients and self-including healthy and sustainable practice to manage stress and vicarious trauma and is willing to learn practices that may be helpful in these regards.

• Approachable for staff, clients, and the community ICLS’ serves.

• Determination to achieve the best options for clients and passionate dedication to access justice via civil legal aid.

• Curiosity and desire to learn about client’s experiences that led to legal issue including systemic injustices that have historically disadvantaged persons of color and low income individuals.

• Hard-working but appreciates a work-life balance; has boundaries and respects others’ boundaries.

• Passion for learning and personal/professional growth including mentorship for self and mentoring others as experience is gained;

• Active listening skills

• Trauma-informed interviewing skills

• Legal writing and research skills

• Courtroom/trial experience (will be gained at ICLS for those with limited experience)

• Analytical skills

• Effectively manage time and case load

• Bilingual (desired, but required)

• Negotiation

• Minimum 1-2 years of litigation experience required, Housing law experience preferred (unlawful detainer, foreclosure defense, tenant's rights, or related housing advocacy)

• Represent homeowners in foreclosure prevention matters, including wrongful foreclosure defense and quiet title actions.

• Analyze chain of title issues and review mortgage documentation.

• Represent tenants in unlawful detainer (eviction) lawsuits

• Collaborate with Consumer Practice Group on housing-related consumer matters.

• Represent tenants in litigation and administrative proceedings to improve living conditions

• Participate in community outreach events and legal workshops/clinics

• Provide legal advice and full scope representation in court to tenants facing…