Staff Attorney

Description

WHO WE ARE: California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty law firm that dismantles unjust systems through community lawyering in California’s historically rural areas. We work with people priced out of private legal representation so they can uphold civil rights in housing, employment, health, and public education. Through our 17 Rural Justice Centers, communities can access a broad range of legal tools, including direct legal services, place-based advocacy to expand equity in civic institutions, and specialized litigation to advance civil rights.

• Position: Staff Attorney
• Experience: 1+ years
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location: Fresno 
• Other: FLSA Exempt, Full-Time, Union Position

The Unincorporated Community Justice Program (UCJP or Program) Staff Attorney works primarily with UCJP staff at the Fresno office as well as Program staff at the Modesto, Tulare, and Salinas offices. UCJP utilizes a community lawyering model to address environmental justice issues in disadvantaged unincorporated communities.  The UCJP Staff Attorney should be creative and willing to partner with community residents to address the community-identified issues and their underlying causes. 

UCJP covers a wide array of environmental justice issues ranging from access to services such as drinking water and broadband to the equitable distribution of resources and siting of hazardous land uses. UCJP’s client communities are disadvantaged unincorporated communities that suffer the consequences of historic underinvestment and discriminatory policies.  

Reporting to the Legal Director, the Staff Attorney provides comprehensive legal services to eligible clients in CRLA priority areas in accordance with CRLA program guidelines, the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Essential Responsibilities/Duties:

• Provides legal services to low-income clients and client groups, including advice, negotiation, litigation, and administrative advocacy in accordance with program priorities and case-handling policies.
• Reviews and supervises the work product of Community Workers and clerical support staff relating to all clients being advised or represented by him/her/them.
• Undertakes significant statewide impact activities including institutional and group litigation, policy work, community environmental and health protection advocacy, and infrastructure development beneficial to the low-income community.
• Develops community leadership by working with communities, clients, and other advocacy groups related to statewide impact issues.
• Works to develop specialized knowledge in a substantive area of poverty law, environmental law, and/or environmental justice law, and acts as a resource for other staff through participation in at least one CRLA task force.
• Coordinates advocacy in substantive areas through collaboration with other human services providers, non-profit organizations, and community, client, or other advocacy groups.
• Participates in CRLA training programs, local office case reviews, staff meetings, and other CRLA activities.
• Provides community education regarding legal rights and prepares materials relating to those presentations.
• Works with members of the private bar as necessary in accordance with CRLA Private Bar Involvement.
• Maintains contemporaneous time records in CRLA’s Case Management System.
• Maintains a good working relationship with all members of the office staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Admitted to practice law in the State of CA or willing to take the next CA Bar Exam.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with low-income clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Able to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• Good people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse population.
• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends and to travel regionally. 

Preferred Education and Experience:

A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:

• Bilingual (English & Spanish).
• Experience working with low-income families and communities.
• Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
• Prior experience in legal services and additional language ability relevant.
• 1+ years of experience in poverty, environmental, and/or environmental justice law and policy.

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; generous benefits package which includes 100% employer-covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance for employees and up to 50% for dependents coverage; and 401K retirement plan with CRLA contribution effective immediately. Some professional dues are paid by CRLA (Bar Fees) and, if qualified, up to $8,000 law school Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP). Generous paid leave policy which includes; 15 days of sick leave, 15 holidays each year, and vacation (accrue 15 days for the first year of service and 20 days after one year of service at CRLA). This is a union position (Legal Service Workers for Rural California "LSWRC" ), and the salary ranges from (Staff Attorney: $73,000-$104,000) depending on each year of admission to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction and any relevant law-related work experience prior to being admitted to practice law.

CRLA requires that all employees are Fully Vaccinated, defined as a CDC-approved COVID vaccination and one booster shot. This offer is contingent on meeting this requirement. The complete vaccination policy, including the process for reasonable allowable accommodations, is available for your review upon request.

California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. thrives on our diversity, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply.

Qualifications