Staff Attorney

CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE INC•San Luis Obispo, CA

7d•$73,000 - $104,000

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. The staff attorney is responsible for providing high quality legal services to clients. While the attorney’s home office is based in San Luis Obispo (SLO), the majority of the attorney’s work will require regular presence in Santa Maria including working in local community spaces, partner sites, and outreach locations. The attorney will primarily support the delivery of legal assistance, community education, and advocacy efforts to meet the legal needs of the Santa Maria community. Staff Attorney provides comprehensive legal services to eligible clients in CRLA priority areas in accordance with CRLA program guidelines, the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

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 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

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.

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