Directing Attorney

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. offers radically necessary services that vindicate the rights of the rural poor and fight for community-led justice. Our advocates believe that rural communities can thrive and that the legal system must work to the advantage of people who reject poverty and systems of oppression. The work we advance spans an impressive gamut of venues and stands on a bold legacy of success and a vision for the prosperity of our clients.

• Position: Directing Attorney
• Experience: 3+ years
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location: Lamont, CA 
• Term of Employment: Regular, Full-Time
• Other: FLSA Exempt, Non-Union Position 

The Directing Attorney is a unique leadership opportunity for an attorney committed to community-centered advocacy to lead a team providing services to marginalized rural communities. The Directing Attorney is responsible for developing the office's advocacy vision and tone and leading their team of Staff Attorneys, Community Workers, and legal support team members in delivering high-quality legal services commensurate with that vision. The Directing Attorney has substantive command of at least one of CRLA's Priority Advocacy areas and is responsible for maintaining their caseload in addition to their leadership role.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise and guide staff attorneys' litigation and other advocacy work, including assessing legal needs and reviewing and editing litigation-related documents. The Directing Attorney ensures that case handling complies with CRLA policies, Legal Services Corporation regulations, the ABA Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Services, and ethical obligations.
• Maintain an active caseload of both affirmative and defensive in-court and administrative litigation.
• Develop and execute the annualized office work plan. The work plan serves as a blueprint for office change advocacy and sets out a results-oriented program that blends various advocacy approaches to impact change locally, nationally, and statewide.
• Convene the local office advisory committee and work with them to identify opportunities for change advocacy.
• Conduct weekly staff meetings and case reviews to assess new intakes' eligibility and the level of service to be provided. Responsible for ensuring all cases progress as planned and are closed on time.
• Manage, train, provide guidance, and evaluate office staff performance.
• Oversee the planning of community education and outreach activities to raise awareness of diverse advocacy areas in local communities.
• As needed, work with the Development and Finance teams to evaluate grant opportunities. Understand, monitor, and deliver grant deliverables and necessary outcomes, including timekeeping and other LSC requirements.
• Proactively source intern candidates. Oversee intern project assignments to ensure a successful learning experience. Similarly, orient, develop, and supervise pro-bono attorneys and volunteers.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of three (3) years experience practicing law, preferably in the CRLA Priority areas of housing, employment, education, rural health, or similar
• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience and/or proven ability to organize and supervise the casework and advocacy of team members
• Demonstrated ability to interact constructively with diverse populations and team members
• Demonstration of commitment to working with low-income, marginalized and diverse populations

HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Admitted to the California Bar
• Fluency in another language, most specifically, Spanish
• Experience in the non-profit or public sectors
• Experience in obtaining grants and managing them through to completion.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: 

CRLA offers a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; the expected pay range for this position is $92,000 to $115,000 per annum. CRLA provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what is reasonably expected to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, the program’s budget availability, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Generous benefits package includes 100% employer-covered Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance for employees and up to 50% for dependents coverage; and a 401K Retirement plan with CRLA contribution matching effective immediately. Generous paid leave policy includes 15 days of sick leave, 15 holidays each year, and 15 vacation days (accrue 15 days for the first year of service and 20 days after one year of service at CRLA). Some professional dues are paid by CRLA (Bar Fees) and, if qualified, up to $8,000 annually for the law school Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP) through CRLA. 

CRLA requires that all employees be Fully Vaccinated, defined as a CDC-approved COVID vaccination and one booster shot. This offer is contingent on meeting this requirement. The complete vaccination policy, including the process for reasonable allowable accommodations, is available for your review upon request.

APPLICATION: 

CRLA invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

California Rural Legal Assistance thrives on our diversity and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply.