Staff Attorney

CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE INC • Santa Rosa, CA

7d • $73,000 - $104,000 • Hybrid

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.

Position: Temporary Staff Attorney/Disaster Preparedness Legal Fellow

The Disaster Preparedness Legal Fellow will work with CRLA’s Director of Pro Bono and Strategic Partnerships to provide statewide organizational support to local offices and satellite locations responding to natural disasters by developing a guide and toolkit that will equip local staff to respond quickly and efficiently to community legal needs, including homeownership preservation, after a natural disaster. The Fellow will also train staff on the implementation of the guide and toolkit and support local staff with implementation if a natural disaster occurs during the Fellow’s time with CRLA. CRLA expects legal issues to include loss of housing and income, displacement, issues with mobile home parks, unemployment and other forms of income assistance, and insurance and FEMA claims.

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

• A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:
• Experience working with low-income families and communities.
• Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
• Prior experience in legal services and additional language ability relevant to CRLA's clients.
• Bilingual (English & Spanish).

Responsibilities

• Provides legal services to low-income clients and client groups, including supporting administrative advocacy in accordance with program priorities and case-handling policies.
• 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

• 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.
• CRLA requires that all employees are Fully Vaccinated, defined as a CDC-approved COVID vaccination and one booster shot.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed