Paralegal – Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit (Remote/Hybrid - Must Reside in Southern California)

About Public Law Center

Founded in 1981, The Public Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free legal services to low income residents and other nonprofits in Orange County. Last year, Public Law Center staff and volunteers provided over 65,000 hours of free legal services in handling over 4,500 cases benefiting low-income children, adults and seniors. The estimated value of this work is roughly $60 million in just the past three years. Our services include counseling, individual representation, community education and strategic policy advocacy and impact litigation to challenge societal injustices.

About the role

The Public Law Center (PLC)’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit seeks an energetic, passionate advocate to join our team in fighting for justice for low-income tenants and self-represented litigants in Orange County through innovative, collaborative, community-centered lawyering to address inequities and pursue access to affordable housing. PLC’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit provides high quality direct representation, in addition to coordinating and supervising pro bono representation, of tenants in cases involving unlawful detainer, discrimination, harassment, housing voucher disputes, affordable housing advocacy, and other issues related to housing in Orange County. The Unit also participates in community education, local and statewide advocacy, and community-based intake clinics. 

What you'll do

• Request, review, and analyze public records relating to affordable housing
• Attend occasional public meetings, including City Council meetings throughout Orange County and provide verbal comments
• Draft letters and other written comments to municipalities advocating for affordable housing
• Collaborate and coordinate with other nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups to further affordable housing in Orange County
• Provide limited support in individual and impact cases, including client intake, legal issue-spotting, eligibility determination, and case management
• Under attorney supervision, convey legal information and approved legal advice
• Assist with interpretation and translation for staff and volunteer attorneys as needed
• Provide general administrative support to the office, filling in where needed
• Other duties as assigned 
• This position requires attendance at meetings, both remote and in person, in and outside the Public Law Center’s offices, and requires being located in Southern California. Must have ability to work at the organization’s offices in Santa Ana, CA, and travel to work sites located throughout Orange County, CA. In addition, travel to Los Angeles County and other neighboring counties may be required

Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate or an equivalent level of training
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
• 1-3 years work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant, with experience in housing or land use law preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to working with low-income communities
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, work independently, and as part of a team
• Must have own transportation, valid CA Driver’s license, insurance and good driving record 

Salary & Benefits 

• Compensation dependent on experience; range of $24.00/hour to $26.00/hour
• Competitive benefits provided, and for this position include:
  • Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance (100% of employee premium costs paid by PLC, and 50% of dependent health insurance premium costs paid by PLC)
  • Flexible Spending Account Program to help pay for medical expenses and childcare costs
  • 15 paid holidays per year 
  • Approximately 1 paid week off during office winter closure (between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
  • 21 paid sick days per year
  • 15 paid vacation days per year
  • 2 paid wellness days per month to promote mental wellness and general wellbeing 
  • Birthday paid time off (2 hours of paid time off during birthday month)
  • 403b retirement plan (after 6 months of employment PLC provides a matching contribution equaling 100% of salary deferral up to a maximum of 3-4%, depending on length of employment)
  • Monthly $55 stipend for Wi-Fi and cell phone use
  • Monthly Bilingual Pay Premium upon successful completion of an oral and/or written test ($50 for oral premium and $50 for written premium) 
  • Optional monthly peer support group facilitated by third party mental health clinic 
  • Opportunities for growth and advancement 

Apply