ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is the nation’s largest provider of pro bono legal services. Founded in 1970, it is dedicated to advancing equal justice under law and addressing economic, racial, social, and other inequities by delivering free legal and social services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Public Counsel operates eight legal projects: Children’s Rights, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Veterans’ Rights, the Audrey Irmas Project for Women & Girls’ Rights, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law. 

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of over 130. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities.

ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Public Counsel’s Consumer Rights & Economic Justice (“CREJ”) team’s mission is to advance economic justice, with a specific focus on addressing structural racial inequalities that have long hampered individuals and communities of color. People of color are more likely to be pursued by debt collectors due to racial income and wealth divides, as well as historical discrimination in financial services, housing, and employment. We are looking for two attorneys to provide legal services, including litigation, to empower and defend the communities we serve, addressing inequalities in bargaining power, opposing those who take advantage of the vulnerable, and holding wrongdoers accountable. We are a diverse team of dedicated and nationally-recognized attorneys and support staff who strive to lift up our clients and each other with excellence, dedication, tenacity, compassion and kindness.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Supervising Staff Attorney the new Staff Attorneys will:

1. Litigate debt collection cases in L.A. Superior Court;
2. Provide direct legal services to low-income consumers across a range of debt collection matters;
3. Run weekly clinics assisting debtors defend themselves against debt collectors;
4. Assist the Supervising Attorney and Directing Attorney in advancing the team’s debt collection policy advocacy efforts;
5. Assist the Supervising Attorney and Directing Attorney in identifying and litigating debt collection impact cases;
6. Other duties as assigned;
7. Extensive training will be provided.

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Admission to the California Bar;
• Excellent oral advocacy skills;
• Excellent legal research and writing skills;
• The ability to quickly assimilate complex case facts;
• Good attention to detail;
• Demonstrated negotiation skills;
• Spanish-language fluency desirable;
• Consumer law experience desirable;
• 1-3 years’ experience as an attorney;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well as part of a team;
• Experience working with low-income, racially diverse, and non-English speaking clients;
• A commitment to economic, racial, and social justice.

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time, Exempt position
• Bargaining
• Salary range is $65,000- $68,725 for zero through three years of experience
• Position is funded by a grant through 2025
• Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with both HMO and PPO options, 
• The option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account,         
• A 403(b) retirement plan with elective contribution and a discretionary contribution after a year of employment, and 
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans.
• Generous paid time off and compensatory time up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parking and transit benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please consider discussing such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY   AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work has been permitted during the pandemic. As of June 6, 2022, all employees with Public Counsel will be required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders. 

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.