Housing Attorney (NO Eviction Defense) (Hybrid)

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities. We empower our clients to assert their rights, maximize their autonomy, achieve equity, and secure the resources they need to thrive in our communities. MHAS advocates on behalf of people of all ages, with an emphasis on obtaining government benefits and services, protecting rights, and fighting discrimination. MHAS also serves as a resource to the community by providing training and technical assistance to attorneys, mental health professionals, consumer and family member groups, and other advocates. Additionally, MHAS participates in impact litigation and policy work to improve the lives of people with mental health disabilities.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Grounded in the disability rights movement, MHAS provides client-centered, trauma-informed legal services. We seek to hire an attorney who shares these values to join our housing team. Attorneys with less than four years of experience may be considered for the position of Staff Attorney. Attorneys with greater than four years of experience may be considered for the position of Senior Attorney, which handles cases related to the same subject matter but with an expectation that the cases will require a high level of legal expertise and experience, and an expectation that the Senior Attorney will provide legal training and technical assistance to other MHAS staff.

Through the Stay Housed L.A. partnership, MHAS provides legal advocacy for low-income tenants with mental health disabilities to ensure they remain safely housed. This position focuses on homelessness prevention, providing direct representation to clients in conflicts with landlords, housing authorities, and non-profit housing and service providers, with an emphasis on pre-eviction legal services. Note: This position will not provide eviction defense representation in court.

The ideal candidate will be expected to respond quickly to legal referrals from the Stay Housed L.A. partnership and assist clients who are being threatened with eviction, threatened with termination of housing subsidies, and/or denied reasonable accommodations to which they are entitled. All MHAS attorneys, including this position, will also provide some assistance to clients calling the MHAS General Intake Line on a wide range of subject areas including housing, public benefits, consumer finance, education, tickets and expungement, and health and mental health.

Other responsibilities will include providing legal training and technical assistance to both staff and clients at partner agencies. The attorney will also take on such other client and policy work from time to time as deemed appropriate to MHAS’ mission and client goals.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

1. Providing competent legal assistance to clients through advice and counsel, research and writing, negotiation, administrative advocacy, and court advocacy;
2. Identifying clients’ legal issues and devising effective strategies to solve clients’ legal problems;
3. Maintaining an independent caseload and providing support on other cases as needed (for Senior Attorneys, including cases that require a high level of legal experience and experience);
4. Researching unfamiliar areas of law using appropriate legal research tools;
5. Drafting clear and concise legal documents using proper tone and language based on audience;
6. Providing technical assistance and training to staff at other organizations and to members of the community;
7. Supervising law clerks and collaborating with pro bono partners;
8. Assisting with project administration and reporting;
9. Participating in policy advocacy projects as requested;
10. For Senior Attorneys, providing substantive expertise, guidance, and training to the entire MHAS legal services team; and
11. Assisting with other projects and tasks as identified related to MHAS’ mission.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. J.D. degree and active membership in the California State Bar.
2. To be considered for Senior Attorney, 4+ years of attorney experience.
3. Commitment to advancing the rights of people with mental health disabilities; people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC); immigrants; and other historically marginalized groups.
4. Ability to advocate zealously and effectively on behalf of clients with third parties (e.g., housing providers, opposing counsel, agency personnel) who may be uncooperative or hostile.
5. Capacity to maintain a trauma-informed approach consistently despite the challenges associated with serving clients under acute and/or chronic stress.
6. Ability to collaborate with and support fellow members of the housing team and MHAS staff generally.
7. Strong legal research skills.
8. Excellent oral and written communication skills with meticulous attention to detail.
9. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage time, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
10. Demonstrated ability to analyze complex legal problems and develop creative solutions.

FOUR DAY WORK WEEK, FRINGE BENEFITS, & WORK CULTURE:

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four eight-hour days per week. The MHAS office is closed on Fridays.

Other benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking/transit fare reimbursement.

MHAS is proud of its collegial, family-friendly culture that respects the work/life balance of its employees. To that end, MHAS is willing to consider flexible work schedules on a case-by-case basis. MHAS also provides employees with frequent wellness opportunities, including trainings on stress management and mindfulness, group meditations, and regular, informal staff gatherings.

This is a hybrid position. While most work can be done remotely, and there are no regular weekly required in-office days, the Attorney may occasionally be required to attend in-person meetings at the MHAS office, at partner organizations and/or other locations. All MHAS staff have access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with necessary technology and other office supplies. The Housing Attorney will be required to live in the Los Angeles area.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION:

Mental Health Advocacy Services seeks to fill all positions with people who share our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage all interested individuals to apply - especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people living with mental health and/or physical disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary; immigrants; people who have been affected by mass incarceration; and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We strongly value lived experience with homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or economic instability. We believe that diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.

APPLICATION PROCESS: View full job announcement at Employment Opportunities — Mental Health Advocacy Services. Submit the following to info@mhas-la.org (state “Employment Application-Housing Attorney” in subject line):

1. Resume;
2. Writing Sample; and
3. Cover letter discussing any and/or all of the following:

• how you heard about the position,
• your motivation for seeking the position,
• your interest in working with people with mental health disabilities,
• how you meet the minimum qualifications, and/or
• how your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

MHAS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, mental or physical disability, or any other basis protected by law.

FOUR DAY WORK WEEK, FRINGE BENEFITS, & WORK CULTURE:

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four eight-hour days per week. The MHAS office is closed on Fridays.

Other benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking/transit fare reimbursement.

MHAS is proud of its collegial, family-friendly culture that respects the work/life balance of its employees. To that end, MHAS is willing to consider flexible work schedules on a case-by-case basis. MHAS also provides employees with frequent wellness opportunities, including trainings on stress management and mindfulness, group meditations, and regular, informal staff gatherings.

This is a hybrid position. While most work can be done remotely, and there are no regular weekly required in-office days, the Attorney may occasionally be required to attend in-person meetings at the MHAS office, at partner organizations and/or other locations. All MHAS staff have access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with necessary technology and other office supplies. The Housing Attorney will be required to live in the Los Angeles area.