Supervising Litigation Attorney

EDC JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB PURPOSE 

The Supervising Attorney plays a key role in the implementation of San Francisco’s Tenant Right to Counsel Initiative. This role involves both direct legal representation and day-to-day management and flow of work of the EDC’s Litigation staff.   Working with a team of attorneys, law fellows, interns, paralegals, and social workers, the Supervising Attorney will represent tenants fighting eviction lawsuits and guide staff in providing high-quality, trauma-informed legal services to tenants facing eviction. The Supervising Litigation Attorney may also work in collaboration with other EDC staff as part of their or other EDC team member client’s legal representation.

This position is ideal for a strategic, mission-aligned, client-centered litigator who is committed to housing justice, thrives in fast-paced environments, and brings a compassionate, equity-focused approach to both client advocacy and staff development. The Supervising Litigation Attorney ensures that EDC’s legal work is coordinated, effective, and consistent with organizational values and programmatic goals.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Supervision Duties (60% )

• Provide day-to-day oversight, coaching, and case guidance to a team of attorneys, fellows, paralegals, law clerks, and support staff) in all aspects of their provision of legal representation to tenants facing eviction
• Supervise legal work to ensure quality, effectiveness, and compliance  with program deliverables and EDC’s mission.
• Support professional development of litigation staff through regular 1:1 and team meetings, feedback, performance reviews, and targeted coaching and membership
• Assist the Director of Litigation and Policy in recruitment, onboarding, and training of new program staff.
• Provide mentoring, training, guidance, supervision and support to litigation staff as needed in the litigation process (e.g. ex parte applications, noticed motion drafting and hearings, trial prep including jury instructions, trial briefs, best case management practices and other litigation processes).
• Serve as a resource for complex case strategy and litigation support, including being prepared to "step in" as lead counsel or second chair when cases progress to trial.

• Maintain an active independent caseload providing both full and limited scope representation to tenants in eviction matters including:
  • Preparing responsive pleadings, discovery, and motions;
  • Advocating for tenants and negotiating on their behalf with landlords and landlords’ attorneys in unlawful detainer (eviction) actions;
  • Representing tenants at court hearings, settlement conferences, and trial.

• Attend Litigation program meetings, monthly agency staff meetings, and relevant supervision check-in meetings.
• Enter all data on time and correctly to support program evaluation and outcomes tracking.
• Represent EDC at community meetings/events as required.
• Support the Director of Litigation and Policy on litigation program related special projects or initiatives.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

First and foremost, the applicant must profoundly share EDC’s mission and vision and be able to manage stressful situations with empathy and calm. Below are additional qualifications. 

• Active membership in good standing with the California Bar.
• Minimum of five (5) years litigation experience (preferably in landlord-tenant, housing law, in the context of unlawful detainer).
• At least two (2) years of experience supervising or mentoring legal professionals preferred.
• Possess ability to make quick decisions and exercise good judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and support in high-pressure, high volume, deadline driven environment.

REQUIRED SKILLS 

Because we strive to be barrier-free and client-centered, the position requires individuals who truly enjoy working with people, have the skills and capacity to respond in an empathetic and respectful way to clients who are often in crisis, and can work effectively in a collegial and fast paced environment  Additional requirements include:

• Strong interpersonal and team leadership skills, including ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Highly organized with strong time management skills; able to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other common computer programs. Legal Case management and Salesforce experiences a plus
• Excellent customer service skills (professional demeanor, sound judgment, communication, de-escalation, conflict management, client-management, etc.) and proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Comfort working with diverse populations, including clients in crisis and from a variety of backgrounds.
• Bilingual ability in Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Russian or other second language a plus.

CLASSIFICATION

 This is an exempt, full-time position. 

UNION

EDC staff are represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW, UAW Local 2320, AFL-CIO). This position is not a union position and is not subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

The position requires working with individuals during moments of extreme stress and instability. The position also requires the provision of culturally sensitive and empathetic services. Some evening and weekend work may be required.  

EDC follows the SF Department of Public Health's guidelines as well as the CDC's guidelines for workplace safety as well as federal and state OSHA requirements.  

This role is hybrid with a requirement to be on-site at least three (3) days per week or more based on the needs of the program and the needs of the Litigation Department.  EDC has a three (3) day a week in office policy employees and employees are expected to be available and reachable by email, phone, and video conference as needed during normal business hours, Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm while working remotely and to communicate with their manager or supervisor regarding whereabouts when elsewhere for meetings or other obligations. Equipment for remote work as well as an Internet/ Utility Stipend will be provided as per the needs of the program or department this position reports to. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Prolonged sitting/standing. 
• Extensive typing/data entry. 
• Close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, text, and figures. 
• Prolonged computer use.

EDC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Eviction Defense Collaborative (EDC), is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer.  EDC  provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, ethnicity, language, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, genetics, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

DIRECT REPORTS

The Supervising Litigation Attorney will have shared supervision of litigation attorneys, law fellows, paralegals, and other litigation advocates with the other Supervising Litigation Attorneys and the Director of Litigation and Policy.  Direct reports will be assigned by the Director of Litigation and Policy.

COMPENSATION 

The salary range for this position is $100,000 - $110,000 per year. 

The base salary for this position is $100,000 ($48.08 per hour). An additional $1,000 will be added for each relevant year of experience, up to 10 years of experience. The starting salary range for this position is capped at $110,000 ($52.88 per hour).

EDC offers a Multilingual stipend of $125 per month for specific roles that regularly use oral or written communication with clients or related parties, in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin, in the performance of their regular job duties. This role is eligible for EDC’s multilingual stipend of $125 if oral and written communication with clients is regularly performed or expected as part of the job duties of this position. To qualify for this stipend, the employee must be fluent in one of the specified languages and pass an oral and/or written test approved by the Labor-Management Committee.