Home Defense Program Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a staff attorney for its Home Defense Program . Our non-profit law firm represents low-income persons in a variety of civil legal matters including family, housing, consumer, public benefits, education and health law. The Home Defense Program is a specialty unit within Atlanta Legal Aid that assists individuals and families to prevent the loss of their home through foreclosure, predatory mortgage lending, or home sale scams. The Home Defense Program is housed within Legal Aid’s Decatur office. The unit currently consists of three full-time attorneys, one part-time attorney, one HUD-certified housing counselor/paralegal, and a paralegal. This is an in-office position.

Responsibilities: 

• Screening, investigating, evaluating, referring, and directly representing low-income persons in danger of losing their homes.
• Handling a mixed caseload using a variety of advocacy methods including legal advice and referral, direct representation, brief service, transactional work, negotiation, mediation, and litigation.
• Participating in community education, task forces, committees, social service organizations, national and local bar associations involved in home protection.

Qualifications:  

• Membership in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia (preferred) or eligibility to sit for the next exam is required.
• Excellent legal writing, analysis, advocacy, and work ethic are required.
• Experience in civil areas, including housing and consumer protection law, is highly valued.
• Demonstrated commitment to public service, clinical experience, and previous work with low-income people, with an appreciation for diversity, are strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a collaborative team model and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in languages other than English, particularly Spanish, is highly valued. 

Salary and Benefits: 

• The salary is $66,000 per year for a new attorney (recently admitted to the Georgia Bar) and may be higher depending on relevant legal experience. The salary for a new attorney pending admission to the Georgia Bar is $61,000 per year and will be adjusted upon admission to the Georgia Bar. Salaries are reviewed annually and may be adjusted based on available funding.
• Generous fringe benefits, including 16 paid holidays in 2026, 6 weeks of paid time off (accruing at 2.5 days per month), and 6 weeks of parental leave (12 weeks after one year).
• Individual health insurance, including optional dental and vision coverage, with partial payment for dependent health insurance.
• Life, long-term, and short-term disability insurance.
• Salary reduction option for a flexible spending account.
• Educational loan reimbursement up to $600 per month (after a set off of other loan reimbursement amounts).
• Voluntary tax-sheltered annuity with a 3% match.
• This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
• State Bar of Georgia dues and CLE expenses.

Application Requirements : Submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample (advice letter, legal memorandum or brief), official law school transcript (a copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript), and the names, phone numbers and email addresses of three professional references (preferably individuals who have supervised or managed your work) as one (1) PDF using our online application system at atlantalegalaid.org/jobs. Only applications with all of the requested documents will be considered for an interview.

Your application will be acknowledged. No phone calls please. For technical difficulties in submitting your application, please email View email address on us.fitly.work .

Atlanta Legal Aid Society considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.