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.
TENANTS RIGHTS – NEW ORLEANS OFFICE
Our Tenants Rights Unit represents residential tenants who are struggling with housing insecurity and helps to stabilize their housing and enforce their rights for preservation. 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 Tenants Right 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. This unit partners with the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center and Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative. Our team includes attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, and social workers. We are currently looking for the following:
STAFF ATTORNEY – TENANTS RIGHTS
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 attorney candidates will be able to demonstrate:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
These positions will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $90,563, depending on experience, e.g., 0-1 years is $54,563, and 15 years is the max starting salary.
Additional compensation for bilingualism.
SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.
SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Shannan Latino, SLLS Human Resources Manager, at slatino@slls.org.
INTAKE SPECIALIST – TENANTS RIGHTS
An Intake Specialist serves as the first point of contact for prospective clients seeking civil legal services and contributes greatly to their first impression of the firm. They interview applicants while documenting their particular need(s) and gathering important information to help assess the firm's ability to provide services. This position works within the Tenants Rights Unit in the New Orleans office performing various functions to support the attorneys to serve clients facing eviction and housing insecurity.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
This position will be full-time with a salary range of $32,625 - $49,625 depending on relevant work experience, e.g., 0-1 years is $32,625, and 15 years is the max starting salary.
Additional compensation for a commissioned notary, a paralegal certificate, a college degree (Associate/Bachelor), and fluency in one or more languages other than English which is regularly used in the position.
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Shannan Latino, SLLS Human Resources Manager, at slatino@slls.org.
VETERANS & INNOVATIVE PROJECTS UNIT – STAFF ATTORNEY, New Orleans
This staff attorney will provide legal representation, advocacy, and community legal education to veterans in the greater New Orleans area. This new staff attorney will work closely with SLLS' Veterans Justice Fellow and our veteran service agencies who refer veterans to SLLS for legal services. The new attorney will help support our VA Medical Center Medical-Legal Partnership, our outreach efforts with partners, and building relationships with potential partners.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Staff Attorneys supervise the support staff on work the attorney assigns to them, and as delegated by the Managing Attorney.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school
Licensed to practice law in Louisiana
This position will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $90,563, depending on experience. Additional compensation for bilingualism.
SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.
SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.
To apply, please send a resume to Shannan Latino, slatino@slls.org.
STAFF ATTORNEY - EMPLOYMENT & BENEFITS, New Orleans
This position will be in the New Orleans office and will handle cases as it relates to Social Security, Unemployment, Wage Claims, and Food Stamps, in addition, will assist in performing outreach as needed. This staff attorney will be supervised by the managing attorney and may supervise the support staff on work the attorney assigns to them, and as delegated by the Managing Attorney.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
J.D. or LL.B. degree from an accredited law school
Licensed to practice law in Louisiana
This position will be full-time with a salary range of $54,563 - $90,563, depending on experience. Additional compensation for bilingualism.
SLLS does offer reimbursement of moving expenses.
SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.
To apply, please send a resume to Shannan Latino, slatino@slls.org.
SUPPORT/CLERICAL STAFF, Covington
This position performs various functions to support the efforts of the office to serve clients. Job duties include handling phone calls, producing written work under the supervision of attorneys, performing various fiscal duties, and performing other tasks on a client’s case permissible for non-attorneys working under the supervision of an attorney.
This position is classified under Staff & Admin. I (SLLS 2024 Salary Scale).
MAJOR DUTIES:
Types and prepares correspondence as directed by attorneys.
Keeps a computerized appointment calendar and helps attorneys organize their time and cases.
Maintains open client files, e.g., prepares files according to firm guidelines, files all incoming documents and/or correspondence, and keeps notes in the file on any conversations with the client.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
High School graduate.
Two years of experience in legal field or public education experience in community. (Course work in related fields beyond high school can be substituted for experience).
Excellent communications skills.
Ability to communicate with general public
Ability to read, understand and interpret laws and regulations
Professional, friendly, courteous and sincerely interested in the client community.
Knowledge of the local client community.
Experience with computer word processing
Familiarity with use of office machines.
Typing 40 wpm
Law office experience preferred.
This position will be full-time with a salary range of $32,625 - $49,625 depending on relevant work experience, e.g., 0-1 years is $32,625, and 15 years is the max starting salary.
Additional compensation for a commissioned notary, a paralegal certificate, a college degree (Associate/Bachelor), and fluency in one or more languages other than English which is regularly used in the position.
To apply, please send your resume to Shannan Latino, HR Manager, at SLatino@slls.org.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY
The Assistant Director of Litigation and Advocacy will work with the Litigation & Advocacy Director to oversee the development of the firm’s major/complex litigation and law and systems reform advocacy. The focus of this position will be primarily on the firm’s housing justice work centered around tenant rights, eviction defense, subsidized housing terminations, affordable housing advocacy, housing justice advocacy with local, state, and federal governmental entities, appellate work, and impact litigation. This is a managerial position that in addition will provide leadership and direction to the firm's Housing Law Unit. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, working remotely and from the New Orleans office.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
The Assistant Director of Litigation and Advocacy receives direction from the Litigation & Advocacy Director or designee.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: As delegated by the Litigation Director or Executive Director provides supervision to advocacy staff. This position assists in training and mentoring all SLLS staff engaged in housing work in the agency. This position may also assist in supervising the work of assigned staff in the agency’s New Orleans Tenant’s Rights Unit.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Member of the Louisiana Bar or willing to take the first available exam.
Five years of experience in the practice of law
Record of addressing issues our clients face with successful systemic advocacy that has changed the systems with which our clients interact
Substantial experience in complex and sophisticated litigation in federal and state civil trial and appellate practice preferred.
Comprehensive knowledge and familiarity with poverty law and experience working with low-income clients, marginalized populations, and communities of color
Demonstrated supervisory and organizational skills and ability to work closely with executive leadership and SLLS attorney staff program-wide.
A genuine interest in the firm and its mission of helping low-income and other vulnerable people achieve justice through direct casework, advocacy, and community legal education and its mission of a more just society.
This position will be full-time with a salary range of $72,000 - $97,000, depending on experience. Additional compensation for bilingualism.
SLLS full-time employees are prohibited from engaging in the outside practice of law.
To apply provide a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample (excerpt is sufficient showing legal analysis) to SLLS H.R. Manager, Shannan Latino, slatino@slls.org.
The deadline to apply is Friday, August 16, 2024
You can view the full job description here.
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.
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