Temporary Family Law/DV Attorney

Bay Area Legal Aid•Redwood City, CA

12d•$83,948 - $138,127•Hybrid

About The Position

Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our services span multiple legal areas including preventing homelessness, increasing economic stability, protecting consumers, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring safety for domestic violence survivors. We serve diverse populations including the working poor, families, foster youth, seniors, immigrants, veterans, individuals impacted by the legal system, and persons with disabilities. Our community-based approach focuses on protecting clients' legal rights, resolving crises, and removing barriers to stability. BayLegal also identifies systemic issues and engages in advocacy and impact litigation to protect the rights of low-income communities and improve public services. The Family Law/DV Practice Team at BayLegal works to protect and advance the legal interests of domestic violence survivors across multiple counties and statewide. Attorneys represent survivors in restraining order actions, child custody and visitation, dissolutions of marriage, child and spousal support, and other family law matters. The team also assists survivors with VAWA, U Visa, and other immigration relief. They conduct community education on legal options for survivors and engage in direct services, policy advocacy, and litigation to address and prevent abuse.

Requirements

Member of CA Bar in good standing. Candidates who have recently passed the California Bar are welcome to apply.
Commitment to complying with all California Rules of Professional Conduct, BayLegal funding requirements, and firm standards, policies, and practices.
Experience or demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy.
Experience and/or interest in working with survivors of trauma.
Humility in working with colleagues, clients, and individuals of all identities, experiences, and perspectives.
Current proficiency, and ability to improve proficiency, in technological equipment, hardware and software necessary to perform duties of the position.
Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with the ability to be detail oriented.
Experience and commitment to working collaboratively with a dynamic team.
Curious and self-directed with the ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
Sense of humor and proactive problem-solver.

Nice To Haves

1 or more years of relevant family law experience preferred
Language fluency and proficiency in Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

Learn about and advocate for the diverse legal needs of undeserved and vulnerable communities in San Mateo and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability, and address social justice.
Represent low-income survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in an array of family court proceedings, including dissolution, child custody and support, parentage actions, and restraining orders.
Represent immigrant survivors of interpersonal violence in seeking and obtaining immigration relief through U Visa, VAWA, and Adjustment of Status petitions.
Work with colleagues to identify issues and ways to improve access and legal protections for survivors of interpersonal violence.
Provide workshops and technical assistance to community partners and client communities on family law and a broad range of civil legal issues.
Work collaboratively with attorneys practicing in BayLegal’s other substantive areas.
Engage with, build and foster broad public-private partnerships, including with governmental agencies, courts, community-based organizations, and pro bono partners to ensure integrated services, client outreach and address barriers facing BayLegal's client community.
Engage in other tasks and projects that further the interest of fostering BayLegal's mission and operations as a non-profit.