Fellow - CRLA Agricultural Worker Justice Program - Fresno
About The Position
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. This is a temporary, 1-year position for a Fellow or Contract Attorney within the Agricultural Worker Justice Program. The program utilizes a community lawyering model to address the specific, discrete, and systemic issues facing agricultural workers statewide, employing creative, innovative, and multi-pronged approaches that address both immediate issues and their systemic roots. This includes community leadership development and policy advocacy, alongside traditional legal advocacy. The program covers a wide array of legal areas, including wage and hour violations and unsafe industry-wide working conditions, serving low-wage agricultural workers in various sectors such as farm work, dairies, packing houses, nurseries, and meat/animal product processing operations.
Requirements
- 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.
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with low-income families and communities.
- Experience working with agricultural workers.
- Experience in Employment and Labor law.
- Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
- Prior experience in legal services and additional language ability relevant.
- Bilingual (English & Spanish).
Responsibilities
- 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.
- Works to develop specialized knowledge in a substantive area of poverty 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 or staff meetings, or other CRLA activities as required.
- 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.
Benefits
- 100% employer-covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance for employees and up to 50% for dependents coverage
- 401K retirement plan with CRLA contribution effective immediately
- Some professional dues are paid by CRLA (Bar Fees)
- Up to $8,000 law school Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP), if qualified
- 15 days of sick leave
- 15 holidays each year
- Vacation (accrue 15 days for the first year of service and 20 days after one year of service at CRLA)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
