Housing Staff Attorney

Who We Are

The Phoenix Legal Action Network (PLAN) works in solidarity with the local immigrant community to reimagine justice in Arizona. We are a small and growing nonprofit organization that has been providing free immigration legal services to keep families together and stop deportations since 2018. In 2025, we expanded into housing justice including eviction defense. We also understand that legal services, while important, do not change the laws and systems that oppress and exclude immigrant communities. In recognition of these limitations, PLAN partners with local immigrant-led organizations to build community power and democratize legal information. And we use storytelling to push back against anti-immigrant sentiment. Learn more about us at www.planphx.org.

The Position: PLAN is looking for a strong housing advocate to lead our Housing Justice Pilot. The ideal candidate is committed to equity and justice and centering the experiences of the immigrant clients and communities we work with. This is a one-year funded position, and PLAN is committed to working proactively to secure ongoing funding and transition this into a permanent role.

Salary: $75,000-$90,000

Start Date: As soon as possible, but flexible for the right candidate.

Reports to: Legal Director of PLAN

Location: Phoenix, Arizona. We offer a flexible, hybrid work environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide free housing representation to low income in specific geographic areas in Maricopa County including represent tenants in eviction proceedings and related housing matters.
• Conduct legal screenings and consultations to assess legal issues and develop case strategies grounded in client goals.
• Negotiate with landlords and seek legal solutions before evictions are in process.
• Draft pleadings, motions, and settlement agreements and other relevant legal documents.
• Provide limited scope advice and brief services for walk-in clinics and rapid response events.
• Assist tenants in pursuing post-eviction remedies.
• Build community trust by participating in and regularly attending events/meetings with local immigrant-led organization partners.
• Collaborate with local immigrant-led organizations to grow legal knowledge within the immigrant community. This includes, but is not limited to, providing community legal education, creating new frameworks for attorney accountability, and hosting legal clinics.
• Manage legal casework system.
• Support with managing and gathering immigration legal services data for grant reporting.

Required Qualifications:

• Passion for PLAN’s mission, vision, and values and interest in acting as PLAN’s ambassador in the community.
• Reside in the Phoenix-metro area or willing to relocate there.
• J.D. degree and license to practice law in Arizona.
• At least 1 year experience of direct representation (includes law school clinical/intern experience) OR 1 year post-law school experience in related area (e.g. public defense, civil legal services, etc.)
• Professional proficiency in English AND Spanish.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, with ability to work in high-volume settings with limited resources.
• Proven understanding of office applications including Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and other similar applications.
• Travel to court, community events, and other locations will be required; must have valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Independent problem-solver with strong professional ethics.
• Demonstrated commitment to immigrant justice and/or racial equity.
• Good team player. PLAN is a small organization and staff wear multiple hats to meet the needs of our community.

Desired Qualifications:

• At least 1 year experience representing tenants (including law school clinical/intern experience)
• First-hand experience with the eviction process, the immigration system and/or involvement with immigrant-led or tenant-led organizations and/or movements locally (preferred) or nationally.
• Experience with and/or interest in learning about movement lawyering and other areas of law to support our local immigrant community.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to work with diverse populations.

Candidates from Underrepresented Groups Encouraged to Apply:

Research shows that qualified individuals who identity as women, black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. PLAN welcomes and encourages all individuals who meet the “Required Qualifications” to apply if they believe they have the skills necessary to thrive in this role even if they do not have all of the “Desired Qualifications.”

In keeping with our organizational values, which include centering immigrant voices, we particularly encourage applications from those whose identities and lived experiences reflect the rich diversity of our immigrant community, including but not limited to, DACAmented immigrants, formerly undocumented immigrants, immigrants with only work authorization, U.S. citizens in mixed status families, immigrants with status, individuals impacted by the immigration deportation machine, and first-generation immigrants.

Compensation & Benefits:

This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $75,000-$90,000 depending on experience. Benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• One personal (1) day a month (use or lose).
• Twenty (20) days’ vacation time annually (earned on a biweekly accrual basis).
• Five (5) Days Medical/Sick Time annually.
• All federal holidays observed.
• Up to $1,500 annual individual professional development reimbursement.
• Payment of annual bar dues for one state and annual membership in one professional association (e.g. American Immigration Lawyers Association).
  • Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel.
  • Paid parental leave.
  • Bereavement leave.