Managing Attorney
Regional office of Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) seeks managing attorney with substantial litigation and administrative advocacy experience, including significant housing law experience, to supervise the six-person office serving Butte, Colusa, Glen, Plumas and Tehama counties. Experience providing legal services to low-income and other marginalized communities and experience with disaster legal services strongly preferred.
Program Description:
Founded in 1956, Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) provides high quality civil legal assistance to the poor, seniors, and persons with disabilities in 23 northern California counties. Funded in part by the federal Legal Services Corporation, LSNC has eight field offices and a number of special projects, including a health law program, a pension law project, and a health insurance counseling and advocacy program for Medicare beneficiaries. The mission of LSNC is “to empower the poor to identify and defeat the causes and effects of poverty within their communities.”
The Butte Regional Office of LSNC is currently engaged in extensive work on behalf of survivors of the 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed more than 12,000 homes and displaced many thousands of Butte County residents who need assistance with a variety of disaster-related legal issues. Applicants for the managing attorney position should desire to lead legal advocacy efforts focused on disaster recovery and community rebuilding that includes low-income people, people with disabilities and older adults.
Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Executive Director: (1) provide leadership for aggressive, innovative and effective advocacy for the poor in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas and Tehama counties and, in collaboration with other LSNC offices; (2) provide supervision and professional development support to staff attorneys and support staff; (3) engage in high quality legal representation and community engagement on priority issues affecting low-income persons and communities; communicate and engage with client communities, local agencies, the judiciary, and the private bar; (4) organize and manage an effective private bar pro bono program and, (5) supervise the legal work of the advocacy staff, coordinate regular office case reviews, conduct staff meetings, participate in staff hiring, and ensure office morale.
In coordination with other LSNC managers, provide staff training and supervision; assure caseload control and compliance with applicable rules, regulations and funding guidelines for legal services work. Participate with other LSNC managers in the management of the overall program, including participation on management committees and task forces; completion of priority surveys and work plans; resolution of staff, client and public grievances. Ensure the financial integrity of the office and develop, administer and report on grant proposals.
Qualifications:
At least four (4) years substantial legal representation experience, including significant experience in housing law; litigation experience or other advocacy skills and a desire to participate in all phases of litigation, including discovery, brief writing, editing and oral advocacy, and appellate practice. Prior experience in the representation of low-income or under-served communities and experience delivering disaster legal services strongly preferred. Knowledge of and experience with personnel management and budgeting, conflict resolution and legal case work supervision is desirable. Prior legal services management experience highly desirable. J.D. and a member of the California Bar, or admitted to the Bar of another state and eligible for admission and willing to take first bar exam after hiring.
Starting Date: March 1, 2019
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience. Generous benefits.
LSNC provides a bilingual bonus for employees who speak a second language, other than English, commonly spoken by clients when the second language is used on the job for which the person is employed.
LSNC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND ENCOURAGES WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OLDER PEOPLE, AND LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO APPLY.
Send cover letter describing your interest in the positions and qualifications, a résumé, writing sample, and three (3) references with telephone numbers to:
Gary F. Smith, Executive Director
Legal Services of Northern California
517 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814