Employment

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) is a non-profit law firm serving the 22 parishes east of the Atchafalaya basin. We provide free civil legal aid to low-income households.

Our attorneys serve this region from offices in Baton Rouge, Covington, Gretna, Hammond, Houma, and New Orleans. SLLS has received national and local awards for its outstanding work.


HOUSING UNIT – NEW ORLEANS OFFICE

Our Housing Law Unit represents residential tenants, who are struggling with housing insecurity, and helps to stabilize their housing and enforce their rights. In 2022, Orleans Parish passed a city ordinance providing any residential tenant facing eviction the right to an attorney. For this purpose, the City turned to SLLS to provide quality representation to these tenants. Our Housing Unit’s Right to Counsel (RtC) team defends tenants against evictions, subsidy terminations, illegal lockouts, and other housing issues that might lead to displacement. Strategies to accomplish the goal of the project include direct representation, education and outreach, operation of Eviction Help Desks, social services assistance and connection to resources, as well as strategic impact advocacy. Our RtC program partners with the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center and Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative. Our RtC team includes attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, and social workers. We’re currently looking for the following:

STAFF ATTORNEY – RtC PROGRAM

Staff Attorneys handle a caseload of Orleans Parish landlord-tenant cases, including providing advice and brief services; representing clients regularly in First City and Second City Courts and assisting with staffing the Eviction Help Desks; defending against subsidy terminations; as well as, assisting with case compliance and reporting, supporting advocacy goals, and other duties as needed. This position is in the SLLS New Orleans. 

The ideal candidates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Proficiency in written and oral communication, client counseling, advocacy
  • Trial skills and/or desire to do trial defense
  • Dependability, ability to respond to emergencies, good work habits, self-motivation, and the capacity to work well with others
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with short-deadlines
  • Dedication to serving vulnerable people and a desire to work in a non-judgmental and holistic environment to support clients

Full-time staff attorney positions require admission to practice law in Louisiana. Starting salary is $54,563 - $81,563, based on years of experience, e.g., 0-1 years and increases on the candidate’s experience. Spanish-English bilingualism receives extra compensation. Fifteen years is the maximum starting salary. Additional compensation for bilingualism, the additional language must be needed for the program.

SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.

SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.

To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Shannan Latino, SLLS Human Resources Manager, at slatino@slls.org


Intake Paralegal, Baton Rouge

Duties will include client eligibility screening and intake for clients for telephone, scheduled in-person appointments, and walk-ins.

This position will be full-time with a salary range of $32,625 - $48,775, depending on relevant work experience, fifteen years is the maximum starting salary, additional compensation for bilingualism, commissioned notary, a paralegal certificate, and a college degree (Associate/Bachelor).

To apply, please send your resume to Shannan Latino, HR Manager, at SLatino@slls.org


CITY COURT EVICTION DEFENSE PRO BONO PROJECT STAFF ATTORNEY, Baton Rouge

Provides and/or supervises legal services to tenants in eviction cases handled through SLLS” Baton Rouge City Court (BRCC) Eviction Desk handled by bono volunteers. This position supervises and/or assists in handling a caseload commensurate with experience, size and complexity of cases, and other relevant factors. Handles complex cases from the BRCC as the primary attorney including subsidized housing cases or other more intensive cases. Duties include recruiting, training, mentoring, and supervising the BRCC Eviction Desk. Also, working with the Project Paralegal, coordinating case placement with volunteers and establishing contact with formal and informal project partners meeting quarterly to improve the operations of the Eviction Desk and share the results of the Project.

The ideal attorney candidates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Proficiency in written and oral communication, client counseling, advocacy, and social service referrals.
  • Dependability, ability to respond to emergencies, good work habits, self-motivation, dedication to serving vulnerable people, and the capacity to work well with others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana

These positions will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $81,563, depending on experience e.g., 0-1 years, and increases on the candidate’s experience. Fifteen years is the maximum starting salary. Additional compensation for bilingualism, the additional language must be needed for the program.

SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.

SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.

Additional compensation for bilingualism, the additional language must be needed for the program.

SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.

SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.


DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STAFF ATTORNEY, Baton Rouge 

This Staff Attorney will handle cases for domestic violence survivors and family law cases. 

The ideal attorney candidates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Proficiency in written and oral communication, client counseling, advocacy, and social service referrals.
  • Dependability, ability to respond to emergencies, good work habits, self-motivation, dedication to serving vulnerable people, and the capacity to work well with others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana

These positions will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $81,563, depending on experience, e.g., 0-1 years, and increases on the candidate’s experience. Fifteen years is the maximum starting salary. Additional compensation for bilingualism, the additional language must be needed for the program.

SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.

SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.

Full-time staff attorney positions require admission to practice law in Louisiana. Starting salary is $54,563 - $81,563, based on years of experience, e.g., 0-1 years is $50,000 and increases on the candidate’s experience. Spanish-English bilingualism receives extra compensation. 

To apply, send your resume to Shannan Latino, HR Manager, at SLatino@slls.org.


STAFF ATTORNEY – HOUSING, New Orleans

This Staff Attorney will service clients in the following parishes: Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard. Handling housing-related cases such as eviction, and assisting staff at the eviction desks.

The ideal attorney candidates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Proficiency in written and oral communication, client counseling, advocacy, and social service referrals.
  • Dependability, ability to respond to emergencies, good work habits, self-motivation, dedication to serving vulnerable people, and the capacity to work well with others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana

These positions will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $81,563, depending on experience, e.g., 0-1 years, and increases on the candidate’s experience. Fifteen years is the maximum starting salary. Additional compensation for bilingualism, the additional language must be needed for the program.

SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.

SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.

To apply, send your resume and a cover letter to Shannan Latino, HR Manager, at SLatino@slls.org


BENEFITS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STAFF ATTORNEY, Baton Rouge 

This Staff Attorney will have a 50/50 role, servicing domestic violence survivors in the Greater Baton Rouge Area under the Legal Assistance Victim (LAV) Grant, as it relates to Housing and Benefit cases related to Social Security, Unemployment, Wage Claims, and Food Stamps and additionally handle cases through our partnership with IRIS related to Housing, Benefits, and Expungements for domestic violence survivors.

The ideal attorney candidates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Proficiency in written and oral communication, client counseling, advocacy, and social service referrals.
  • Dependability, ability to respond to emergencies, good work habits, self-motivation, dedication to serving vulnerable people, and the capacity to work well with others.

Full-time staff attorney positions require admission to practice law in Louisiana. Starting salary is $54,563 - $81,563, based on years of experience, e.g., 0-1 years is $50,000 and increases on the candidate’s experience. Spanish-English bilingualism receives extra compensation. 

To apply, send your resume to Shannan Latino, HR Manager, at SLatino@slls.org


STAFF ATTORNEY – HOUSING AND EVICTION, Baton Rouge 

This Staff Attorney will handle Baton Rouge eviction cases for clients at Baton Rouge City Court and Justice of the Peace Courts. In addition, throughout the Greater Baton Rouge area cases involving landlord and tenant disputes.

The ideal attorney candidates will be able to demonstrate:

  • Proficiency in written and oral communication, client counseling, advocacy, and social service referrals.
  • Dependability, ability to respond to emergencies, good work habits, self-motivation, dedication to serving vulnerable people, and the capacity to work well with others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana

These positions will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $81,563, depending on experience, e.g., 0-1 years, and increases on the candidate’s experience. Fifteen years is the maximum starting salary. Additional compensation for bilingualism, the additional language must be needed for the program.

SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.

To apply, send your resume to Shannan Latino, HR Manager, at SLatino@slls.org


CONTRACT ATTORNEY – Child in Need of Care (CINC) Unit 

SLLS is seeking CINC contract attorney(s) for up to 25 hours per week to represent children in court in abuse/neglect proceedings in the following parishes:

Terrebonne (Houma), Lafourche (Thibodaux), Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, and Assumption.

Contract attorney positions require admission to practice law in Louisiana and for the attorney to be in good standing with the Louisiana State Bar Association. The selected candidate must be certified to handle CINC cases which requires a six-hour training offered online and on-demand before any cases can be assigned. Additional training will be offered by SLLS and/or other partners. CINC cases are different than any other area of law and are governed by the children’s code. CINC attorneys directly represent the wishes of the child to the other parties/stakeholders in cases. Contract attorneys are paid for time spent in training, handling cases, reporting information, time spent on administrative duties, and time spent for travel back and forth to court. The hourly rate is $35 per hour for CINC attorneys. Mileage is excluded from the hourly rate. 

To apply, please send a resume to Shannan Latino at slatino@slls.org.  In an e-mail, please indicate which parish(es) you will accept CINC case referrals per the above list. 


At SLLS, we know our differences make us better and stronger in achieving equal access to justice and we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion to make a positive contribution to our clients, communities, and each other. SLLS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or veteran status.


Your Time

  • 20 days per year PTO (Paid Time Off)
  • 16 Paid Holidays
  • 37.5 Hourly Work Week

Your Health and Wellness

  • Employer Paid Health Plan
  • Employer Paid Short Term Disability (STD)
  • Employer Paid Long Term Disability (LTD)
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance
  • Employer Paid Family and Medical Leave
  • United Healthcare Health, Vision, and Dental Plans
  • EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
  • FSA (Flexible Spending Account)- Health, Dependent Care & Transportation

Your Money

  • 403(b) Employer Paid 3% Retirement after 1 year
  • Student Loan Forgiveness Programs ((Participating Non-Profit)
  • Employer Paid Monthly Parking or Transit Contribution for New Orleans Staff

Your Career

  • Employer Paid Professional Society Membership
  • Employer Paid Professional Licensure Registration Fees
  • Employer Paid Legal Help Resources

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