Jobs and Internships

Jobs

Eviction Defense Attorney

The Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center (LaFHAC) seeks an
experienced attorney to support the efforts of LaFHAC’s New Orleans-based team. The Eviction Defense Attorney will support LaFHAC’s Enforcement team as they provide eviction defense to clients.

About LaFHAC:
LaFHAC is a non-profit organization that seeks to eradicate housing
discrimination, an illegal and divisive force that perpetuates poverty and
segregation, and limits opportunity. LaFHAC was established in 1995 and is the only full-service fair housing advocacy organization in Louisiana. LaFHAC addresses housing discrimination by 1) educating housing consumers and providers about their rights and responsibilities to proactively prevent violations of the Fair Housing Act; 2) investigating fair housing violations; 3) challenging discriminatory housing practices policies through litigation; 4) advocating for new policies that promote equitable housing; and 5) counseling homeowners facing foreclosure.

Project Description:

The Eviction Defense attorney will work on LaFHAC’s eviction defense project, with an emphasis on serving clients that fall outside of legal aid’s service boundaries. The Eviction Defense attorney’s work will be focused solely on eviction defense in Orleans Parish/City of New Orleans as a response to the ongoing eviction crisis. The attorney will work closely with the local LSC-funded legal aid organization, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, to identify the populations that are most likely to be underserved, as well as to provide and be a source for referrals. The Eviction Defense attorney will appear regularly in Orleans Parish Civil District Court, to defend tenants facing eviction.

Qualifications:

 Passion for civil rights advocacy and housing justice
 Demonstrated commitment to racial equity
 Attention to detail
 Ability to work on teams and with different working styles

Responsibilities included, but are not limited to:


The Eviction Defense Attorney’s duties and responsibilities will include: 
 Provide quality representation and advice to individuals facing eviction in Orleans Parish.
 Collaborate with SLLS to ensure coverage on the help desk 1-2 times per month. 
 Manage administrative aspects of representation including updating case notes and closing out files.  
 Serve as a liaison to locally based coalitions that are working to protect tenants from eviction.
 Conduct outreach at community events and during other outreach efforts.
 Provide information and education to affinity groups and elected officials to improve conditions and outcomes for tenants. 
 Other duties as assigned.


Salary and Benefits:


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; and connections to the community.  
Benefits include:
 100% employer-paid medical insurance with available dental and vision coverage
 Flex spending account
 401(k) with employer-matched contributions
 Paid vacation and sick leave
 Paid parental leave.
Please Note: LaFHAC’s staff continues to work hybrid due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Employees are required to work in the office two days per week.

How to Apply:


The position is open until filled, but we will begin reviewing applications May 30th. Please email a resume and cover letter explaining your interest in the position to resumes@lafairhousing.org with the subject line “Eviction Defense Attorney.”  All correspondence should be addressed to Legal Director, Lucia Blacksher Ranier. 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.

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