Staff Attorney

COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING•Los Angeles, CA

22d•$75,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Attorney works in Cast’s Legal Department, which provides comprehensive legal services to U.S. citizen and noncitizen survivors of sex and labor trafficking, including help pursuing criminal, civil, and immigration relief. The department also responds to emergency cases and assesses potential victims. The attorney assists clients with urgent, short-term legal needs and longer-term legal matters. Short-term work may include protective-order proceedings, criminal-defense advocacy, immigration bond hearings, victim-rights advocacy, California Victim Compensation Board applications, and credit-repair applications under the Debt Bondage Repair Act. Longer-term representation may involve immigration relief, post-conviction relief, victim-witness representation, and civil litigation. Cast’s legal team supports the organization’s 24-hour emergency-response hotline. As part of a rotating schedule, the Staff Attorney is on daytime emergency duty one to two weeks per month, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., conducting phone-based factual intakes using a work cell phone. The role requires a human-rights-centered, strengths-based approach; trauma-informed legal advocacy; client-management expertise; independent decision-making; and strong interpersonal and teambuilding skills. Cast prioritizes work-life balance. The position is full-time and exempt, based in Southern California with a hybrid remote arrangement, and reports to the Supervising Attorney of the Direct Legal Services Program.

Requirements

Active membership in the California State Bar.
Commitment to serving trafficked persons, migrants, and low-wage workers.
Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with trafficked persons, legal organizations, community-based organizations, volunteer lawyers, and government agencies.
Ability to develop and implement effective systems for managing a caseload.
Ability to respond to emergency and breaking cases and be available by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. one to two weeks per month.
Excellent interpersonal skills and honest communication.
Knowledge and understanding of a human-rights-centered, strengths-based approach to serving clients, including trauma-informed legal advocacy, client empowerment, professional boundaries, and self-care.
Client-management expertise and ability to make independent decisions.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of human trafficking and issues affecting trafficked persons.
Experience working with victims of trauma or abuse.
Substantive experience with immigration, criminal law, family law, and/or victims’ rights advocacy.
Bilingual ability preferred.

Responsibilities

Respond to calls to Cast’s 24-hour hotline during assigned shifts, coordinating with social-services staff and conducting phone-based factual intakes of potential victims. Daytime emergency duty is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. one to two weeks per month.
Conduct factual intakes in accordance with the law and provide and manage initial legal screening for new clients, assessing short- and long-term legal needs.
Provide legal assistance for urgent, short-term needs, including protective-order proceedings, criminal-defense advocacy, immigration bond hearings, victim-rights advocacy, California Victim Compensation Board applications, and credit-repair applications under the Debt Bondage Repair Act.
Represent clients in longer-term legal matters, including immigration relief, post-conviction relief, victim-witness representation, and civil litigation.
Work collaboratively with social-services and shelter staff.
Support policy-reform advocacy emphasizing the human rights of trafficked persons, migrants, and low-wage workers.
Provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to legal aid organizations, law firms, and law enforcement to assist trafficked clients.