Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is seeking a full-time attorney to work under a grant intended to address housing instability and reduce illegal evictions. The attorney will provide residential eviction defense services to low-income tenants. Responsibilities include tenant rights advice, negotiation with adverse parties, and representation in Forcible Eviction and Detainer (FED) trials in justice and circuit courts. The position is funded through March 2024. The attorney must live in Oregon but may work remotely. The lawyer will be part of the Douglas County LASO office and will focus on cases from Douglas and Klamath Counties but may handle FED cases throughout Oregon as workload allows. Most of the appearances will be virtual through video, although some travel is occasionally necessary.
Background
LASO is a non-profit organization that represents low-income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low-income population throughout the state and two specialized statewide programs focus on services to farmworkers and on issues impacting Native Americans. LASO is an effective, high-quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on problems faced by our client community. LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.
Responsibilities
The attorney will handle a caseload of housing clients who have active eviction cases filed in circuit or justice court or have been served residential termination notices. The attorney will work with clients using trauma informed principles to address the various needs of clients regarding the pending or potential eviction. The attorney will regularly appear in eviction court. Responsibilities also include outreach to and collaboration with community-based partners for tenant education.
Qualifications
Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income people. Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, communication skills, initiative, computer skills, and willingness to work collaboratively. Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism. LASO has a hiring preference for candidates who are bilingual in Spanish and/or another language frequently spoken by the communities we serve. Current Oregon State Bar membership is required.
Salary/Benefits
Compensation is based on a 35-hour work week. Salary range for attorneys begins at $61K and extends to $100K depending on experience. Additional compensation for bilingual ability. Full benefits package includes individual and family health, vision, and dental insurance coverage; 6% employer retirement contribution; generous paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave; and paid moving expenses.
Closing Date
Open until filled. Review of resumes ongoing.
Applications
Send resume and letter of interest to:
rosejobs@lasoregon.org
If you require reasonable accommodation for a disability during the application/hiring process, please contact Meghan Collins, Director of Administration, at Meghan.Collins@lasoregon.org.
We celebrate diversity
LASO is committed to being an organization that reflects the communities we serve and is diverse in race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, or sensory, mental, and physical abilities, work background, experience, and education. We believe that the outcome of such diversity is our greatest strength and a matter of basic human fairness. It is to this end that we strongly encourage applications from people of color and people from any other underrepresented and historically marginalized group to apply for this position.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) is an effective, high-quality legal services program with a mission to achieve justice for the low-income communities of Oregon. LASO emphasizes areas of law where these needs are greatest and where representation and advocacy can have the most impact for vulnerable Oregonians.