Director of Legal Services
Description:
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) is a non-profit law firm serving the most vulnerable individuals and families in Los Angeles County. Founded on the fundamental principle that every person should always be treated with dignity and respect, ICLC provides legal representation and advocacy to thousands of homeless and working poor clients, focused on combating slum housing, preventing homelessness, and aiding homeless veterans. With 40 staff and 350+ volunteers, ICLC is the only provider of legal services headquartered on Skid Row and is widely recognized for its expertise on housing and homelessness.
Position Description:
ICLC is searching for an experienced, dynamic and creative attorney to lead our major programs. The Director of Legal Services oversees twenty attorneys and ten support staff. The Director has five direct reports: the lead attorneys for ICLC’s Litigation, Homelessness Prevention, Homeless Veterans, and HIV/AIDS teams and ICLC’s Pro Bono Coordinator. The Director of Legal Services reports directly to the Executive Director.
The Director of Legal Services supervises staff in the following projects:
• ICLC's Healthy Homes Project combines outreach, education, tenant organizing, and litigation to address housing-related health hazards that threaten vulnerable, low-income tenants.
• ICLC's Homelessness Prevention Project defends low income families facing eviction from rental housing.
• ICLC's Homeless Veterans Project serves veterans who have one or more disabilities as a result of their military service, and who live without stable housing.
• ICLC’s HIV/AIDS Project helps low income people living with HIV/AIDS fight discriminatory housing practices, maintain safe and affordable housing, and enroll in public benefits programs.
The Director of Legal Services:
• Has primary responsibility for ensuring high quality client-centered legal representation of clients in these programs, developing strategic program goals, and leading the accomplishment of those goals.
• Provides overall management for program staff, including setting budgets, defining expectations, and establishing a common system for reporting results and client outcomes.
• Ensures a healthy, work environment that promotes professional development, open communication, and accountability.
• Partners with other senior staff to identify and pursue funding and partnership opportunities.
• Develops and maintains relationships with pro bono counsel at some of the highest-profile law firms in the city.
• Serves as ICLC’s ambassador to numerous community organizations and government agencies.
• Collaborates with ICLC’s Director of Public Policy to promote policy changes to reduce systemic barriers to safe and affordable housing.
• Performs other duties as needed.
Requirements:
Required: Commitment to ICLC’s mission and values. Strong management and leadership skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills. At least ten years experience as a practicing attorney. Demonstrated ability to supervise, motivate, and lead teams. Innovative and solution-oriented. Ability to interact with a wide range of people in a kind and professional manner. Ability to quickly build trust and rapport with low-income tenants. Demonstrated understanding of issues affecting low-income communities and communities of color. Ability to assume responsibility quickly and work independently and as part of a team. Ability to use good judgment, multitask and meet deadlines. Creative thinker with experience developing and implementing new projects.
Preferred: Management experience in a non-profit setting, including grant funded projects. Litigation experience, preferably in a civil rights or public interest context. Substantive legal experience in some of ICLC’s core practice areas. Fund development experience. Ability to speak Spanish. Member of the California Bar.
To Apply:
We will accept applications until the position is filled. To apply, please email cover letter, resume and three references to:
Erin Thompson
Special Projects Manager & Board Liaison
Inner City Law Center
ICLC is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will
Compensation:
Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits.
Information
Submission Deadline:
July 14, 2015
Organization Information:
Inner City Law Center
1309 East Seventh Street
Los Angeles, CA
90021
United States
Phone:
2138912880
See map: Google Maps
Organization URL: