Staff Attorney

Job Description

Staff Attorney / Registered Legal Aid Attorney

Title: Staff Attorney / Registered Legal Aid Attorney

Department: Housing

Supervisor: Supervising Attorney

Location: in-house with the possibility of hybrid in the future

Salary Scale: $85,000 - $120,000

The Staff Attorney / Registered Legal Aid Attorney provides direct legal representation and advocacy to low-income clients, ensuring access to justice and high‑quality legal services. This Staff Attorney maintains a reasonable portfolio of cases, conducts client intake, legal research, drafts pleadings, and represents clients in settlement negotiations, discovery, hearings, and court proceedings. The Staff Attorney collaborates with staff and community partners to address client needs effectively while adhering to organizational policies, professional standards, and grant requirements.

The Staff Attorney contributes to GBLA’s mission and vision by providing high‑quality legal services.

GBLA seeks an attorney to serve clients within GBLA’s housing team. With legal representation, tenants gain protection, advocacy, and access to resources to navigate complex, fast‑paced eviction proceedings. The attorney ensures tenants’ rights are upheld, provides guidance on legal options, and attempts to settle to prevent homelessness. The attorney protects individuals and families from housing instability by offering stability, peace of mind, and a chance to stay housed.

• Provide high‑quality legal advice, counsel, and representation to eligible clients.
• Conduct client interviews, gather facts, and analyze legal issues.
• Draft and file pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents.
• Represent clients at hearings, trials, settlement conferences, depositions, and other legal proceedings.
• Maintain a caseload consistent with program standards and deliverables.
• Accurately document case activities and outcomes in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with ethical rules and confidentiality obligations.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and stay current on relevant laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Collaborate with other staff to ensure high‑quality, coordinated client services.
• Mentor or support law clerks, paralegals, interns, or volunteers as assigned.
• Participate in team meetings, trainings, and organizational initiatives.
• Identify systemic barriers impacting client communities and support strategic litigation or policy advocacy where appropriate.
• Contribute to impact projects that address root causes of poverty and injustice.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned or delegated.

• Active member of the State Bar of California in good standing or eligible to become a Registered Legal Aid Attorney.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work successfully with GBLA staff, clients, and community partners.
• Exceptional ethics and commitment to GBLA’s mission and vision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information professionally.
• Ability to travel throughout Kern County.

• Bilingual, or multilingual, in languages commonly spoken throughout Kern County.
• Experience in community outreach, education, or collaboration with partner organizations.
• Familiarity with social justice issues affecting Kern County’s low‑income communities.

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. “GBLA” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is “to promote social change and justice by providing high‑quality legal services to the low‑income community.”
GBLA’s service area is Kern County, California. It is the state’s third‑largest county in land area.