STAFF ATTORNEY: RE-ENTRY/EMPLOYMENT (Pittsfield, MA)

Community Legal Aid & Affiliate • Pittsfield, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

CLA seeks a staff attorney who will help people coming out of incarceration with re-entry issues and low-wage workers with employment law matters. The attorney will help formerly incarcerated individuals seal, expunge, or correct their Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and will represent people seeking to overturn housing denials based on their CORI. The attorney will also help individuals with barriers to employment resulting from their CORI, including denials involving state agency-level background checks. The attorney will also assist workers, including formerly incarcerated workers, with unemployment, wage & hour, leave, and employment discrimination matters. In addition to representing individual clients, the attorney will engage in active community outreach and education, including holding regular intake hours off site, and will work closely with community partners. The attorney will be based in CLA's Pittsfield office. Part-time hours are negotiable for this position.

Requirements

• Third-year law students currently in their third year of law school, recent law school graduates, and more experienced attorneys are eligible to apply.
• Demonstrated commitment to poverty law and social justice work.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative setting.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in re-entry and/or employment law.
• Prior experience in community outreach.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Help formerly incarcerated individuals seal, expunge, or correct their Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI).
• Represent people seeking to overturn housing denials based on their CORI.
• Help individuals with barriers to employment resulting from their CORI, including denials involving state agency-level background checks.
• Assist workers, including formerly incarcerated workers, with unemployment, wage & hour, leave, and employment discrimination matters.
• Engage in active community outreach and education, including holding regular intake hours off site.
• Work closely with community partners.

Benefits

• 401(k) with employer-paid contribution of 5% gross salary
• Low-cost health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents
• Malpractice insurance
• Paid leave (4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, and 13 holidays)
• Student loan repayment assistance up to $500/month for qualified law school and undergraduate school loans
• Relocation stipend

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees