Housing Rights Fellow

Type:1-year initial term with a 1-year extension, fixed term, non-exempt, full-time  position. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by CWA Local  9410. 

Requirement: J.D. and California bar membership required  

Location:San Francisco. This is a hybrid role that is required to work in the office 2 days  a week. Travel is expected throughout Northern California. 

Deadline:Applications will be considered until June 30, 2026 or on a rolling  basis until filled.  

Reports to:The Housing Rights Fellow reports to the Housing Rights Program Director.  

Compensation and Benefits:The Housing Right’s Fellow salary range is $87,550 - $137,620. The compensation is determined based on relevant years of experience and in  accordance with the negotiated salary scale in the union contract for this position.  

This position is eligible for language premiums for demonstrated proficiency in a language  other than English that is regularly used in their job duties. The annual premium is $1,500  for oral proficiency and $1,500 for written proficiency in each language. 

ALC’s comprehensive benefits package includes the following: generous vacation and  paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of  premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account  (FSA); commuter benefits; and 401(k) retirement plan with employer non-elective  contribution and match.  

The Opportunity 

Asian Law Caucus (ALC) seeks a Housing Rights Fellow for its Housing Rights Program.  The Housing Rights Fellow will chiefly engage in direct services and community outreach  serving California tenants and tenant groups, with a focus on Bay Area tenants and  tenant groups in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and Sacramento  counties.  

This position is a key member of our Housing Rights team, which adopts a multi-pronged  approach to housing defense and anti-displacement. A critical component of the program  is providing holistic, community legal services and know-your-rights education to low income and immigrant tenants who face threats of displacement due to gentrification,  harassment, discrimination, and other intimidation tactics. Staff actively participate in 

community coalitions and work closely with tenants and grassroots advocates to use  policy and impact strategies to protect and advance the rights of low-income communities  of color.  

They may also engage in policy advocacy that arises from our representation and  outreach work. There may also be the opportunity to engage in some instances of cross program or impact litigation work.  

This position reports to the Housing Rights Program Director. 

The Organization  

ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the  civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Since 1972, ALC has  fought for access to affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and  provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct  client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of  color, across our Immigrant Justice, workers' rights, housing rights, and National  Democracy Initiative programs, and other emerging areas of law. 

ALC is based in San Francisco, a hub of the Asian American rights movement,  progressive politics, and social justice activism. Our building in Chinatown is the first  mixed-use, affordable housing co-op in San Francisco, serving as a model for preserving  affordable housing in the city and protecting tenants’ rights.  

Responsibilities 

Day-to-day activities vary in this dynamic position and include the following: 

● Direct Services and Representation 

○ Conduct intakes and as necessary provide legal advice and counsel to tenants through clinics, held twice a month, and legal consultations 

○ Provide high-quality legal representation to tenants at all stages in unlawful detainer litigation, affirmative litigation, and administrative proceedings  

○ Represent and counsel tenant groups in organizing tenants or campaigns 

○ Manage active caseload of housing rights cases, including maintaining client files, records, and notes, as required by case needs and grant-reporting

    requirements  

● Community Outreach  

○ Build and sustain relationships with grassroots community partners who  support tenants and/or do anti-displacement work including in San  

    Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sacramento, and other California counties. 

○ Conduct Know Your Rights trainings and other community legal  education for tenants and community partners  

○ Participate in coalitions and provide training, technical assistance, strategy development, and accessible written materials to community organizations and

    other stakeholders whose work touches on low-income California immigrant tenants 

● Impact Litigation, Narrative Change and Policy  

○ Supporting tenant-led campaigns and tenant organizing through strategic  legal advocacy 

○ Identify systemic problems through direct services work and possibly  participate in resulting impact litigation and advocacy efforts 

○ Contribute to legal research and analysis to inform or guide ALC  strategies for litigation and advocacy to build power among immigrant Asian, Arab,

    Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities. 

○ Develop policy analysis around housing issues that impact low income and immigrant tenants 

○ Develop and work on impact litigation cases --including multi tenant and building-wide housing cases 

○ Collaborate with Communications staff to develop stories with  ALC clients and their communities and execute narrative shifting strategies 

Collaborate with other staff in the Housing Rights Program and perform other duties  as needed 

Qualifications 

● Minimum of two (2) year of direct services and legal representation (in any  practice area) OR state court litigation experience  

● Excellent legal research, analytical, written and oral communication skills, and  strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills  

● Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team and manage  multiple tasks in a timely manner 

● Ability to work independently, including managing a caseload, and values  accountability 

● Ability to think creatively, be strategic, and exercise good judgment 

● Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in changing environments and  among varied community stakeholders 

● Ability to think strategically and balance competing priorities with grace and  reason 

● Ability to work well under time pressure and meet deadlines 

● Ability to work flexible hours, including some weekends and evenings

● Commitment to advancing the rights of low-income, people of color, immigrant, tenant, or worker communities 

Highly Desirable 

● Previous experience with housing law, eviction defense, fair housing 

● Previous experience in direct services, litigation, policy advocacy, and/or community lawyering

● Previous experience working with low-income immigrant communities 

● Previous experience working with clients who require interpretation and/or  translation

● Fluency in a non-English language, particularly Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish,

   Tagalog, or Vietnamese  

Application Process 

Interested candidates should submit via Breezy (as PDF attachments) the following:  

(1) cover letter explaining your interest in the position  

(2) resume  

(3) writing sample (no more than 10 pages)  

(4) three professional references  

Asian Law Caucus is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified  persons are encouraged to apply, regardless ofrace, color,religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices),national origin, ancestry, citizenship,  physical or mentaldisability,medical condition (including HIV, cancer and genetic characteristics),genetic information, marital or domestic partner status,reproductive  health decision-making, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related  medical conditions) gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40  years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical  leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the  California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim and survivor status, political  affiliation, height, weight, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.