Litigation - General (consumer) Attorney in Los Angeles, CA

Public Interest

Los Angeles, CA

Litigation - General (consumer) Attorney in Los Angeles, CA

Attorney

Max 4 yrs required

No

**Job Title:**
Attorney – Attorney (Student Loan Justice)(DFPI) – Economic Stability Workgroup

**Job Responsibilities:**
The attorney will lead the organization's student loan justice work under a grant from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Key responsibilities include:
- Leading a coalition of legal aid grantees to coordinate legal services and providing training and assistance to non-legal services organizations aiding student loan borrowers.
- Providing direct legal services to low-income borrowers.
- Identifying systemic issues and engaging in impact policy and litigation at both state and federal levels.
- Consulting with non-legal services organizations on their outreach and education materials for borrowers.
- Providing outreach and education to community-based organizations and borrowers.
- Gathering evidence and preparing individual claims for student debt relief.
- Engaging in administrative advocacy to secure favorable federal debt repayment plans for clients and prevent involuntary collection on defaulted loans.
- Defending private debt collection lawsuits.
- Developing impact cases to challenge illegal student loan practices by the . Department of Education and private loan creditors and debt buyers.
- Developing partnerships with other DFPI grantees, strategizing on systemic issues, outreach, and debt relief efforts, and providing technical assistance and training to non-legal services grantees.
- Writing comment letters, providing hearing testimony, and offering legal analysis on for-profit school and student loan laws at state and national levels, complying with Legal Services Corporation regulations.
- Providing outreach and education to other DFPI grantees, community partners, and the client community on student loan rights.
- Participating in and supporting the organization and other legal services task forces.

**Education and Experience:**
- Active membership in the California State Bar with zero to four years of experience.
- Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income individuals.
- Preferred litigation experience, including case evaluation, legal research and writing, discovery, negotiations, and administrative hearing or trial experience.
- Familiarity with federal and state debt collection laws, consumer financial services laws, fair credit reporting, and unfair and deceptive acts and practices laws.
- Preferred previous public interest experience.
- Willingness to work beyond a minimum hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events, and workweeks exceeding 35 hours when necessary.

**Salary Information:**
- $83,200 annually for Year 1, increasing to $89, annually for Year 2, dependent on experience, with excellent benefits.

**Additional Information:**
The position is part of a special program with designated funds, with no assurance of ongoing funding or employment beyond 18 months. The organization offers a diverse environment with competitive compensation based on comparable public interest salaries. Benefits for full-time employees include medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, life insurance, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan. Eligible employees may qualify for bilingual supplements, law student loan reimbursements, and a cell phone stipend. A hybrid work schedule is available, with the opportunity to work remotely up to half the week after the probationary period. The organization is committed to a healthy work-life balance and offers wellness-related benefits, employee assistance programs, Wellness Friday video sessions, a wellness content library, 15 observed holidays, and generous time off benefits.

**Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:**
The organization is an equal opportunity employer. Selection is based solely on merit and without discrimination based on 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 provides reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees as required by law. Diversity is valued and encouraged, and applications from all qualified applicants are solicited without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.