Staff Attorney

Job Details Job Location:
Oxnard Office - Oxnard, CA Position Type:
Full Time Salary Range:
Undisclosed Job Category:
Legal 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:
  
  6+ months
• Final date to receive applications:
  Open until filled
• Location:
  
  Ventura/Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties - Hybrid
• Other: FLSA Exempt, Full-Time, Union Position

Position Description:

The Staff Attorney will provide post-conviction services to low-income individuals facing eviction, housing insecurity, substandard housing conditions, or other barriers to housing throughout Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties. The holistic approach to combating these issues will include legal services in criminal record clearing.

Reporting to the Directing Attorney, this position will be responsible for full-scope representation to individuals seeking to clear their records in the Santa Barbara & Ventura County’s service area, providing Know Your Rights presentations, conducting outreach, clinics, and case management of record clearing services under the Project. Additionally, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for engaging in cross-referrals to other CRLA services and/or referrals to external project partners.

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.
• Undertakes significant statewide impact activity, including institutional and group litigation or community economic development beneficial to the low-income community.
• Develops leadership in working with community, client, and other advocacy groups related to statewide impact issues regarding record clearing options
• Works to develop specialized knowledge in a substantive area of record clearing 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 or staff meetings, or other CRLA activities as required primarily with Santa Barbara & Ventura County service areas.
• Provides community education regarding legal rights and prepares materials relating to these presentations.
• Works with members of the private bar as necessary in accordance with CRLA Private Bar Involvement.
• Maintains contemporaneous time records in the CRLA case management system.
• Maintains a good working relationship with all members of the office staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Admitted to practice law in the State of CA.
• 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.

Preferred Education and Experience:

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

• Experience working with diverse low-income families and communities.
• Experience in Trauma-informed intake and service delivery practices
• Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
• Prior experience in legal services, expungement,resentencing, record clearing, and post-conviction.
• Bilingual Spanish-English or another language…