Job Description
HERA is a unique, California statewide, not-for-profit legal service and advocacy organization. HERA's mission is to ensure that all people are protected from discrimination and economic abuses, especially in the realm of housing. We focus particularly on the needs of those who are most vulnerable, which includes but is not limited to lower-income people, the elderly, immigrants, people of color and people with disabilities. HERA's practice areas span a broad range of consumer debt and credit related concerns, as well as fair housing, tenant and homeowner concerns. Services are available statewide.
HERA is on course to create a probate law practice at our office to meet the needs of vulnerable residents for legal advice and representation on probate matters. Our particular focus is on preserving the family home for the next generation, which is part of our broader economic justice, anti-discrimination mission. See heraca.org for a sense of the breadth of our current services. The probate practice will complement the work of staff attorneys in our existing homeownership preservation legal practice. We have two probate attorney positions to fill to create this practice for the first time within our office.
HERA Probate Attorney Activities Will Include:
- Providing legal advice to vulnerable California residents on probate questions
- Representation of vulnerable California residents through the probate court process
- Assessing cases and strategizing for optimal efficiency and client satisfaction
- Possible supervision of a paralegal (and possibly legal interns) to assist with legal matter
- Client interaction to answer questions, explain procedures, plan and strategize and solve problems to determine clients' needs
- Court appearances
- Workshops/seminars for consumers
- Collaborative work with other office members.
- Potentially providing some in-service trainings for other professionals in service of HERA’s mission
- Potential to supervise other probate attorneys and/or law students as the practice grow
Qualifications include:
• At least 8 years of probate court experience assisting individuals through the probate process in California, especially modest means residents.
• Applicants must also have experience performing legal research, and preparing memoranda or other documentation to communicate their findings.
• Experience working with or in diverse communities.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, detail oriented, timeliness and good follow-through of cases are required.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Strong work ethic and high level of integrity
• Knowledge of relevant software including MS Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.)
• Active membership in good standing -- State Bar of California
• Foreign language ability a tremendous plus.
Please email resume and writing sample to Maeve Elise Brown at melisebrown@heraca.org.
Educational Requirements
The minimum educational qualification required to be a Probate Attorney at HERA is a Juris Doctorate in Law with a license to practice law in California, active and in good standing.