Jobs and Internships

Legal Director

The Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) seeks an experienced Legal Director to support its New Orleans-based team. The Legal Director will lead the Enforcement team’s efforts to defend tenants’ rights and investigate and address violations of the Fair Housing Act across Louisiana.

About LaFHAC:

LaFHAC is a non-profit civil rights organization that seeks to eradicate housing discrimination and advocates for thriving, inclusive communities. 

Education and Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a JD from an ABA-accredited law school and be a current member in good standing of the Louisiana Bar. We are unable to accept those who have not yet applied for the bar or are awaiting results at this time.

Responsibilities

The Legal Director will oversee all aspects of pre-litigation advocacy, administrative complaints, and litigation in eviction, housing discrimination, and related civil rights cases, and will collaborate with LaFHAC leadership on education efforts and policy advocacy. The Legal Director’s responsibilities will include:

  • Lead LaFHAC’s enforcement and right-to-counsel efforts by providing vision, direction, and support to a team of attorneys, legal workers, and support staff;
  • Grow and manage LaFHAC’s litigation portfolio while meeting FHIP deliverables and goals;
  • Perform the provision of a full range of services to persons experiencing housing instability and discrimination: counseling, referrals to attorneys or enforcement agencies, representation in administrative and litigation proceedings.
  • Supervise the attorneys and staff working on the enforcement team;
  • Serve as liaison and point of contact to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development staff on enforcement issues related to the Fair Housing Initiatives (FHIP) program;
  • Recruit and manage cooperating attorneys, legal interns, externs, and law clerks;
  • Manage LaFHAC’s testing program in collaboration with the Coordinator of Investigations;
  • Partner with LaFHAC staff and external partners as necessary to support enforcement goals and LaFHAC’s mission

Other Responsibilities May Include:

  • Work collaboratively with other programs and initiatives to promote fair housing;
  • Represent LaFHAC as necessary in public spaces in a way that embraces and embodies LaFHAC’s mission and goals; and
  • Other duties as assigned.

Please Note: LaFHAC’s staff continues to work hybrid due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Employees are required to work in the New Orleans office two days per week.

Qualifications:

Applicants for the Legal Director position should have significant experience as a practicing attorney. Additional requirements and necessary skills are:

  •  A demonstrated commitment to civil rights work is required.
  • Admission to Louisiana State Bar and/or ability to practice in Louisiana federal courts;
  • 3-5 years of experience in a senior level position in legal practice that handled a high volume of civil rights cases, similar civil litigation, or in civil legal aid.
  • 1-3  years of experience managing small teams in a legal nonprofit or law firm;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the fair housing complaint process is preferred;
  • Ability to speak and write about fair housing in a way that resonates with community members and partners (organizational and individual);
  • Personal connection with and to the harmful effects of segregation and housing discrimination is desired;
  • Connection to and experience working within communities of color and with other persons likely to experience housing discrimination;
  • Ability to handle a large volume of housing discrimination cases in a fast-paced setting while growing LaFHAC’s profile in the legal community and the community at large;
  • Exceptional organization, with project management skills and attention to detail;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Goal-oriented, flexible, eager to learn, takes initiative, and thrives in an entrepreneurial environment with a tight focus on results
  • Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and ambitious deadlines simultaneously
  • Commitment to LaFHAC’s mission and goals

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $80,000-90,000. Placement on the pay scale is based on the following factors:

  • Years of relevant work experience
  • Relevant undergraduate degree (or higher) or certification received
  • Bilingual language skills
  • Connections to the community 

LaFHAC’s benefits include:

  • 100% employer-paid medical insurance with available dental and vision coverage
  • Flex spending account
  • 401(k) with employer-matched contributions
  • Paid vacation
  • Paid parental leave

How to Apply:

Email your resume, a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and a writing sample to resumes@lafairhousing.org with the subject line “Legal Director.”  Applications must be received by Monday June 24, 2026 for consideration.  All correspondence should be addressed to Ameca Reali, Executive Director. Please note: due to the expected volume of submissions, we will not be able to return emails or phone calls about specific applications.

LaFHAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. LaFHAC values diversity and inclusion in the workplace because it enhances the work we do, reflects the communities we serve, and embodies the values we further and defend. Candidates of all backgrounds are welcome.

Internships & Law Clerkships

Law Clerks

The Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) seeks dedicated, motivated, and talented law students for semester-long and summer internships.​

Law clerks assist LaFHAC attorneys with the investigation and litigation of fair housing complaints. Work may involve all aspects of litigation, including client intake, performing legal research, conducting factual investigation, drafting memoranda and motions, analyzing discovery materials, attending court proceedings, and preparing briefs. Law clerks may also assist with community outreach events designed to educate the public about their fair housing rights.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample via email to resumes [at] lafairhousing.org.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Please note that LaFHAC is no longer taking applications for 2026 Summer Internships. 

Education, Outreach and Policy Internships

LaFHAC’s Education & Outreach Department provides Fair Housing education to a wide variety of stakeholders including renters, first time homebuyers, landlords, property managers, real estate agents, developers and government officials. We educate the wider public through social media, print and radio advertisements, and targeted outreach. We also conduct workshops for youth and publish an original children’s book The Fair Housing Five.  LaFHAC’s Policy Department promotes equitable housing laws and regulations on the local, state, and national levels. Recent victories include the expansion of housing protections for survivors of domestic violence through the passage of the Louisiana Violence Against Women Act in August 2015.

Education, Outreach and Policy Research intern applications are welcomed throughout the year with slots available in the Spring and Fall semesters, as well as over the summer. At this time, internships are unpaid.

Internship Activities

The focus of each internship will be designed in consultation with LAFHAC staff, taking into account department needs and intern skills and areas of interest.  Tasks might include:

  • Producing and posting relevant content (including text, graphics, and video) to Facebook and other social media
  • Designing advertisements (print, radio, social media), flyers and brochures
  • Helping plan LaFHAC’s annual Fit for a King Fair Housing Summit, as well as workshops and other events
  • Tabling at community events and other direct outreach
  • Assisting with Fair Housing Five youth workshops
  • Bringing policy related research projects from inception to completion. Projects combine social science skills with project administration (sample projects include research and data collection on the Louisiana state legislature; using U.S. census data to track demographic changes; and mapping opportunity through local land use laws).

Interns should be interested in civil rights, law and policy, history, community education and/or design and marketing. Preferred candidates are tech-savvy, highly organized, and have a basic understanding of federal, state and local government. This is a great way for any social science major to apply classroom skills to real-world challenges.  Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours preferred.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Monique Blossom at mblossom [at] lafairhousing.org and Catelyn Williams at cwilliams@lafairhousing.org