Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Date posted: May , 2010
Compensation: Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Generous benefits.
Organization Profile: Western Center on Law and Poverty leads the fight to secure housing, healthcare and a strong safety net for low-income people in California. Founded in 1967, Western Center brings about system-wide change through impact litigation; legislative advocacy; administrative advocacy with state and local government; and support for the state’s local legal aid programs. Our work reaches every county in the state. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Western Center also has offices in Sacramento and the Bay area. For more information, please visit our website: www.wclp.org.
Position Summary: The Managing Attorney leads a team of highly skilled attorneys dedicated to making system-wide changes on behalf of low-income Californians, conducts complex litigation, provides other legal services, and is an integral part of the senior management team. The Managing Attorney develops, shapes, oversees and engages in statewide litigation, administrative advocacy, support center services, and related activities for Western Center on Law & Poverty
Responsibilities:The Managing Attorney’s primary responsibilities are to:
1) Direct, supervise and coordinate Western Center legal services, other than Sacramento based advocacy.
2) Oversee the development and implementation of advocacy goals, objectives, work plans and policies.
3) Hire, supervise, train, motivate, counsel and evaluate attorneys.
4) Work with the Director of Litigation to coordinate litigation and non-litigation legal services.
5) Conduct litigation - analyze complex legal and factual issues; develop appropriate legal strategies; lead the preparation of complex pleadings and discovery; argue cases.
6) Provide other legal services.
7) Participate on Western Center’s Senior Management Team.
8) Manage department administration and work collaboratively with development, finance and operations departments.
9) Represent Western Center in the community.
Qualifications: Admitted to practice law in the State of California or willing to take the next California Bar Exam. Three years minimum experience supervising attorneys, preferably in a non-profit legal services environment. Eight years minimum impact litigation experience in state and federal courts, preferably in a non-profit legal services environment. Excellent oral and written advocacy and legal analysis skills. Strong courtroom, writing and research skills. Demonstrated commitment to working on behalf of low income clients. Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks, while maintaining attention to detail. Good people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse staff.
Application procedure: Applications accepted until the position is filled. Please email cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and list of references to:
Denise Williamson, Director of Operations
Western Center on Law and Poverty
3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 208
Los Angeles, California 90010
(213) 235-2635