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Job Title: Consumer Attorney
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Reports To: Consumer Practice Group Director
Supervises: Paralegals and Legal Secretaries as required

Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) is seeking an Attorney to join our Consumer Team. Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing free legal services to persons who are low-income, seniors, and with disabilities, residing in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. ICLS targets services to those in the greatest social or economic need on the belief that everyone deserves access to justice.

ICLS’s services are provided by attorneys, or paralegals under the direct supervision of an attorney. Levels of service include advice and counsel, limited action (includes negotiations and preparation of legal documents), as well as direct representation before administrative law and civil courts. ICLS provides legal assistance in a variety of legal areas, and has eight practice groups, including Elder Law, Consumer, Housing, Family Law, Immigration, Systemic/Impact, Health Law and Public Benefits. ICLS also provides legal assistance in partnership with pro bono attorneys, law students, and other volunteers in a range of projects, including a Small Business Clinic, Expungement Clinic, and others. Visit our website at www.inlandlegal.org for more information.

The Consumer Team is a committed group of lawyers and support staff who provide services in the areas of consumer debt defense, financial abuse, bankruptcy, and tax disputes. We use community education, outreach, clinics, workshops, negotiation, and litigation to both empower and obtain the best outcomes for our clients. We partner with community organizations and private attorneys to provide the highest quality of service with limited resources.

Overview of Position

We are seeking an Attorney with a passion for consumer protection. This position offers the right candidate a dynamic experience litigating, networking, project planning, team building and innovating solutions to bridge the access to justice gap for distressed consumers. The position also provides significant training and professional development. Currently there is a focus on consumer debt defense and solar/efficiency home loans known as PACE.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
• Interviewing and advising clients of their rights and legal strategies
• Triage cases for merit and resource allocation.
• Maintain client relationships
• Manage and resolve client litigation and legal disputes
• Research complex legal issues
• Engage in community outreach, workshops, and clinics
• Support team members on their cases
• Innovate ways to expand delivery of services
• Participate in grant searches, planning, writing, and reporting
• Demonstrate ability to handle urgent matters in tight timeframes
• Comply with all firm policies, procedures, and restrictions
 

Desired Education, Skills, and Experience
• Law degree and active member of the California Bar in good standing
• Ability to understand the objectives of poverty law
• Prior experience serving low-income clients preferred
• Strong written, verbal, and interviewing skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work and collaborate with a team
• Patient and flexible
• Calendaring experience preferred
• Litigation experience preferred
• Background in substantive legal areas impacting impoverished communities and experience working with low-income organizations and client groups preferred.

How to Apply
Submit a compelling letter of interest and resume to HRManager@icls.org. 

The recognition of our common humanity is the first step in fostering a diverse environment. The sum of our unique differences is greater than our individual parts. Our unique stories and experiences allow us to better solve the challenges that our community faces. Staff approach professional relationships with humility across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited English proficiency with a willingness to consider unique perspectives. Inland Counties Legal Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.