Attorney (Veterans of Color Advocacy Project) – Veterans Justice Center Workgroup

POSITION:   Attorney (Veterans of Color Advocacy Project) – Veterans Justice Center Workgroup

LOCATION:   Long Beach Community Office

SALARY:    $74,257.70k - $ 77,599.30k/ annually DOE, with excellent benefits

AVAILABILITY:   Immediately

APPLICATION DEADLINE:     Continuous until position is filled.

Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you!

The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Celebrating 95 years of service to Los Angeles communities, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 100 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact healthy, safety, and self-sufficiency. Every year, LAFLA helps more than 100,000 people find their voice, regain control of their lives, and build a brighter future. Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change. LAFLA also engages in impact litigation to help enact long-term systemic change—actively collaborating with a network of public and private partners to expand access to justice, identify needs in the communities we serve, and change laws and policies that adversely affect the underserved. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org.

The Veterans Justice Center (VJC) is the oldest free legal services program for Veterans in Los Angeles County. VJC staff advocate on behalf of Veterans to obtain life-sustaining income, health, and housing benefits; dismiss tickets and expunge convictions so Veterans can have a fresh start; upgrade unjust less-than-honorable military discharges; and prevent Veteran homelessness.

The VJC Attorney will work on our Veterans of Color Advocacy Project (VOCAP). VOCAP is the first project of its kind geared toward assisting veterans with criminal records through the expungement process. Attorneys will provide legal assistance to justice involved veterans. It will require working collaboratively with community-based organizations and volunteers to provide record clearing services to veterans. The position will also require supervision of volunteers in a clinic setting including in a pre-clinic phase and a hearing phase.

LAFLA is currently accepting applications for the position of Attorney – Veterans Justice Center.

This position is part of a special program created using designated funds. There is no assurance of ongoing funding or employment beyond October 2024.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Active membership in the California State Bar;
• Some knowledge of criminal law and post conviction relief is preferred;
• Demonstrated commitment to serving the needs of low-income veterans and reentry populations;
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team including other attorneys, support staff, volunteers, and community partners;
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills;
• Ability to work effectively with a large caseload and function professionally within a highly stressful environment; and;
• Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0 hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks in excess of 35 hours when caseload or other obligations so necessitate.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

• Interview, counsel and represent clients on various legal issues including the expungement of criminal records, sentence reduction, citation defense, and other post-conviction/criminal record related work;
• Work collaboratively with and supervise volunteers in a variety of virtual and in-person clinic settings, including those at which record clearing petitions are completed;
• Represent veterans in expungement hearings;
• Create and deliver trainings for volunteers participating in all aspects of the clinic, including participants in the pre-clinic and hearing components of the program;
• Coordinate logistics of virtual clinics;
• Develop tracking tools to help evaluate the effectiveness of the program and assist in preparation of reports related to the same;
• Provide workshops/trainings and other community outreach projects on various relevant legal topics;
• Learn various legal areas to remove clients’ legal barriers to employment; and other duties as assigned;
• Contribute to the organization’s DEI plan and goals (via surveys, interviews, etc), supporting all DEI initiatives and helping to promote inclusion in a thoughtful way;
• To view LAFLA’s Commitment to DEI, please go to https://lafla.org/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion-justice-at-lafla/

HOW TO APPLY -

Please submit a cover letter and resume online to spwgjobs@lafla.org. Include “Attorney (VOCAP) - VJC” in the subject line.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD – A one year introductory period will be required.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:  Selection

will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of

race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex,

gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion,

genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military

or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital

or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status.

The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing

reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to

applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from

all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age,

religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual

orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and

veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any

other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require

reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to

require an accommodation if hired, please contact humanresources@lafla.org.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION – LAFLA offers a diverse environment with

competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also

offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical,

dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term

disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Employees

may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements,

and a cell phone stipend.

LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend.