Legal Aid Society of San Diego is the largest poverty law firm serving San Diego County since 1953, dedicated to providing equal access to justice. They are seeking a Staff Attorney Fellow to work on consumer law-related legal issues, manage a heavy caseload, and represent clients in various phases of civil litigation.
Responsibilities
- Representing clients in all phases of litigation, including research, investigation, drafting pleadings, discovery, law and motion, mediation, arbitration, trial, and appeal in state and federal court
- Interviewing prospective clients, rendering legal advice, and developing case strategy
- Handling an increasingly complex caseload
- Attending and engaging in community outreach and education and developing positive relationships with the client community
- Running self-help clinics as needed
- Developing and presenting educational presentations to varying audiences, including fellow attorneys and the public
- Creating self-help materials on consumer law topics for varying audiences
- Developing good working relationships with court, administrative agency personnel, and opposing counsel
- Assisting in the training and supervision of advocates, support staff, and volunteers as appropriate
- Complying with all program and grant requirements, including but not limited to maintaining data, records, and case files in compliance with funder requirements
- Timely and accurately completing administrative tasks, including timekeeping and timesheets
- Collaborating with other teams and outside organizations to provide holistic services
- Developing creative methods, litigious and non-litigious, for dealing with recurring client problems
- Staying up to date on substantive developments in the consumer protection field
- Other tasks as assigned
Skills
- Admitted and in good standing with the California State Bar
- J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school
- Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently as well as support team efforts, and to strategize and plan so as to timely and consistently meet grant deliverables and reporting requirements
- Must have reliable transportation
- Must be willing to travel to outreach locations, LASSD's two office locations (Midtown and San Marcos), and for client meetings
- Fluency in written and spoken Spanish or another language preferred
- Knowledge or experience in the field of consumer protection law, bankruptcy, and/or civil litigation
- Experience with or desire to pursue affirmative litigation when warranted
- Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people
- Ability to work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds, including being able to communicate clearly and effectively with those who may have cultural or language barriers, and those who suffer from physical or mental disabilities
Benefits
- Generous benefits package
- 35-hour workweek
- Paid vacation leave
- Sick leave
- 100% employer paid medical premium
- 50% employer-paid premium for dependents under LASSD health plan
- Dental
- Vision
- Life benefits
- 403(b)-retirement plan
- Dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA)
- Law school loan repayment program
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
Company Overview
The Legal Aid Society of San Diego is a proud, committed and compassionate group of people dedicated to providing equal access to justice for poor people through aggressive, quality legal services. It was founded in 1920, and is headquartered in San Diego, California, USA, with a workforce of 201-500 employees. Its website is https://www.lassd.org.