Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change.. LAFLA represents these clients by, among other things, seeking discharges of their federal loans when they have attended fraudulent for-profit schools or when they are disabled, stopping administrative wage garnishment, federal benefit offsets, and income-tax intercepts, and fighting illegal debt collection practices.. LAFLA also identifies and seeks to address systemic issues through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and collaboration with other student borrower advocacy organizations.. The Student Loan Relief Attorney will provide direct representation to individuals dealing with student loans or disputes with their colleges, identify and seek to address systemic issues through impact litigation or policy advocacy at the state and federal levels, and provide community education to community-based organizations and borrowers.. Provide direct representation to individuals dealing with student loan issues, including by gathering evidence and submitting individual claims for debt relief and filing administrative appeals (including to federal court) when necessary;

attorney

POSITION: Attorney (Student Loan Relief) - Economic Stability Workgroup
LOCATION: East Los Angeles Community Office
SALARY: $74,257.70- $81,091.26/Annual DOE with excellent benefits
AVAILABILITY: Immediately
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Continuous until position is filled. Are you interested in joining an organization dedicated to increasing access to justice while addressing systemic inequities among the most vulnerable members of the Greater Los Angeles area? If yes, LAFLA is the place for you! The Organization: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved—leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Celebrating 95 years of service to Los Angeles communities, LAFLA is the first and most experienced legal aid organization in Greater Los Angeles. LAFLA has more than 200 employees, including more than 100 attorneys, who provide free services and resources on a broad range of civil legal issues that impact healthy, safety, and self-sufficiency. Every year, LAFLA helps more than 100,000 people find their voice, regain control of their lives, and build a brighter future. Our unique combination of neighborhood offices, self-help centers at courthouses, and domestic violence clinics puts LAFLA on the frontlines in communities at the forefront of change. LAFLA also engages in impact litigation to help enact long-term systemic change—actively collaborating with a network of public and private partners to expand access to justice, identify needs in the communities we serve, and change laws and policies that adversely affect the underserved. For more information, please visit www.lafla.org. The Workgroup: The Economic Stability Workgroup (ESWG) helps people obtain benefits to fulfill basic needs (food, shelter, medical care, and services to attain self-sufficiency); fights wage theft and denial of unemployment insurance benefits; and advises on wrongful terminations and discriminatory employment practices. ESWG also helps people struggling with student loan debt and other types of debt, helping them to assert defenses and fight predatory debt and illegal collection practices. In addition to direct service, ESWG engages in policy advocacy and impact litigation to address systemic problems. The Project: For over 30 years, LAFLA has led nationwide efforts to fight the predatory higher education practices and dismantle the unjust student debt system that disproportionately impacts our low-income clients, who are people of color, first generation students, veterans, single working parents, immigrants, and others. LAFLA represents these clients by, among other things, seeking discharges of their federal loans when they have attended fraudulent for-profit schools or when they are disabled, stopping administrative wage garnishment, federal benefit offsets, and income-tax intercepts, and fighting illegal debt collection practices. LAFLA also identifies and seeks to address systemic issues through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and collaboration with other student borrower advocacy organizations. The Position: The Student Loan Relief Attorney will provide direct representation to individuals dealing with student loans or disputes with their colleges, identify and seek to address systemic issues through impact litigation or policy advocacy at the state and federal levels, and provide community education to community-based organizations and borrowers. The attorney will also engage in impact policy and litigation. QUALIFICATIONS:
•Active membership in the California State Bar with two to four years experience;
•Demonstrated commitment to serving the needs of low-income people;
•Litigation experience, including case evaluation, legal research and writing, discovery, negotiations, and administrative hearing or trial experience preferred;
•Previous public interest experience preferred; and
•Willingness to work beyond a minimum 7.0 hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks in excess of 35 hours when caseload or other obligations so necessitate. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
• Provide direct representation to individuals dealing with student loan issues, including by gathering evidence and submitting individual claims for debt relief and filing administrative appeals (including to federal court) when necessary;
• Defend private student loan collection lawsuits at every stage of litigation and, where appropriate, file and litigate cross-claims for illegal and deceptive debt collection and business practices;
• Identify systemic student loan abuses that impact low-income consumers and address these issues through affirmative litigation and policy work, including state and federal policy work regarding student loan issues (federal and private) and for-profit school oversight;
• Maintain high active caseload;
• Provide workshops to community partners and client community on student loan borrower rights;
• Develop relationships with and engage in collaboration with a range of public and private community and national partners, including governmental agencies, other legal aid providers, and community-based organizations to ensure integrative services and address systemic barriers facing LAFLA’s client community; and
• Participate in and support LAFLA and other legal services task forces;
• Contribute to the organization’s DEI plan and goals (via surveys, interviews, etc), supporting all DEI initiatives and helping to promote inclusion in a thoughtful way;
• To view LAFLA’s Commitment to DEI, please go to https://lafla.org/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion-justice-at-lafla/ HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter and resume online to eswgjobs@lafla.org. Include “Attorney-Consumer Debt Justice” in the subject line. INTRODUCTORY PERIOD: A one-year introductory period will be required. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Selection will be based solely on merit and will be without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital or registered domestic partners status, or any other legally protected status. The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process or expect to require an accommodation if hired, please contact humanresources@lafla.org. BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION: LAFLA offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan. Employees may also qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend.

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