Staff Attorney

CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE INC • Modesto, CA

2d • $73,000 - $104,000 • Onsite

About The Position

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 Stanislaus County. 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 Stanislaus County 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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 relevant to the local client population.

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 primarily in the Stanislaus County service areas.
• Develops leadership in working with community, client, and other advocacy groups related to statewide impact issue regarding record clearing options.
• 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, and the Public Defender Office in Stanislaus County service areas.
• Other duties as assigned.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees