Managing Attorney

WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1966, CRLA’s mission is to fight for justice and individual rights alongside the most exploited communities of our society. California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. offers legal services that defend the rights of the rural poor and change the unjust systems that oppress them. Our advocates believe that rural communities can thrive and that the justice system can be worked to the advantage of people who reject poverty and discrimination. 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. The Community Equity Initiative (CEI) program addresses environmental justice issues in some of California’s most underinvested communities.  

• Position:                        Managing Attorney - CEI Environmental Justice
• Experience:                   3+ years
• Application Deadline:    Open until filled
• Location:                       Any of the respective CRLA offices; Salinas/Tulare/Fresno/Modesto
• Term of Employment:    Full-Time
• Other: FLSA Exempt,    Union Position

Position Description:

CEI utilizes a community lawyering model to address environmental justice issues in disadvantaged communities.  The model calls for creative, innovative advocacy that uses a multipronged approach to address the issues and their systemic roots.  Approaches such as community leadership development and advocacy around policies are as important to the work as traditional legal advocacy.  The CEI Managing Attorney should have a demonstrated interest in community lawyering and skills to lead and develop creative CEI teams in the area.

The CEI program covers a wide array of legal areas ranging from access to services such as water and broadband to the inequitable distribution of resources and siting of hazardous land uses. CEI’s client communities are Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities (DUCs) that suffer the consequences of historic underinvestment and discriminatory policies.  They bear the burden of unjust and inequitable conditions and decisions. 

The CEI Managing Attorney will work with the Legal Program Director and CEI staff to develop and implement creative advocacy strategies to address community-identified environmental justice issues in the Salinas/Tulare/Fresno/Modesto regions and will assist in managing CEI Staff. Primary responsibilities include legal advocacy/litigation, collaboration with partners and government agencies, community leadership development, analysis of pending policies, and supervision of staff.

Essential Responsibilities/Duties:

Supervision of Staff and Advocacy

• Oversight and supervision of Community Equity Initiative staff and advocacy in the assigned counties.
• Supervise and guide staff’s advocacy work, including assessing legal needs and reviewing and editing litigation-related documents.
• Ensure that case handling complies with CRLA policies, Legal Services Corporation regulations, the ABA Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Services, and ethical obligations.
• Conduct periodic case review meetings with staff to monitor for quality legal services and compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
• Supervise and guide staff development, including evaluating staff and developing and implementing professional development plans.

Strategic Advocacy

• Take on statewide impact advocacy, including group litigation and permissible legislative advocacy.
• Assist CEI teams to develop community leadership and support community residents’ capacity to participate in public decision-making.
• Work with CEI teams to develop and implement community-specific strategies in client communities.
• Coordinate advocacy in substantive areas through collaboration and co-counseling with pro bono partner organizations, agencies, communities, and advocacy groups.
• Raise awareness of successes and challenges facing DUCs through media, presentations, and participation in issue- and community-based coalitions.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Develop specialized knowledge in a CEI priority area of environmental justice community leadership development and act as a resource for CRLA staff.
• Participate in training programs, staff conferences, staff meetings, and other CRLA activities.
• Model appropriate leadership behaviors and take swift action to mitigate behaviors that compromise CRLA values. In collaboration with Human Resources, ensure a culture of knowledge sharing and continued learning. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Demonstrated commitment to working with low-income clients.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice.
• Some experience with litigation and policy advocacy.
• Admitted to practice law in the State of CA or admitted before the court of any state and willing to take the next CA bar.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to manage a caseload with minimal supervision.
• Good people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse population.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends and to travel regionally.

Preferred Education and Experience:

A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:

• Experience with issues related to the environment, local governance, land use, planning, leadership development, or civil rights.
• Experience working with low-income families and communities.
• Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
• Bilingual (English & Spanish)

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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 $95,000 to $118,000 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 $6,000 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.

Additional Details: