Director of Legal Services

Director of Rural Legal Services

Position: Director of Rural Legal Services
Reports to: Deputy CEO
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Location: Any CRLA Office
Term of Employment: Regular, Full-Time
Other: FLSA Exempt, Non-Union Position

About CRLA:

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty law firm dedicated to dismantling unjust systems through community lawyering in California’s historically rural areas. For over five decades, we have partnered with communities priced out of private legal representation to uphold civil rights in housing, employment, health, and public education. Building on a radical legacy rooted in the farmworker movement and the War on Poverty, CRLA continues to fight for the rights and prosperity of rural Californians through bold advocacy, systemic change, and a vision of thriving, empowered communities. CRLA’s community-led legal services activate community power to achieve justice, ensuring our clients and partners have the tools to dismantle poverty, discrimination, and systemic inequities.

Joining CRLA means becoming part of a team that honors dignity, fights for fairness, and embraces bold, community-led solutions to systemic injustices.

Position Overview:

The Director of Rural Legal Services is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, equitable legal services that drive systemic change and empower rural communities. This position provides strategic direction across four key legal units: Rural Justice, Housing, Employment, and Health. The Director is pivotal in fostering collaboration across units, ensuring that advocacy aligns with community lawyering principles, and leading the organization’s systemic advocacy efforts. This role also entails serving as a senior advisor on litigation and advocacy priorities and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership and Strategy: Provide visionary leadership to Legal Directors and foster a culture of excellence and equity. Develop and implement cross-functional strategies to promote systemic advocacy and impactful litigation.
• Collaboration and Efficiency: Establish and refine case management and communication systems to enhance cross-unit collaboration and operational efficiency.
• Community Engagement: Represent CRLA in external forums, including public policy discussions, media engagements, and community events. Build and maintain partnerships with government agencies, funders, and community organizations.
• Compliance and Oversight: Ensure adherence to CRLA policies, grant requirements, LSC regulations, ABA Standards, and ethical obligations. Monitor advocacy outcomes to ensure alignment with CRLA’s mission and strategic goals.
• Resource Development: Collaborate with the Resource Development and Finance teams to secure sustainable funding, manage grant deliverables, and drive programmatic growth.
• Mentorship and Development: Supervise and mentor Legal Directors and senior leaders, providing professional development opportunities and fostering an inclusive work environment.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience working with historically marginalized populations.
• At least 5 years of program management or supervisory experience, demonstrating proven ability to lead and inspire teams.
• A minimum of 10 years in advocacy roles, the majority of which should be experience as an attorney.
• Proven success in obtaining and managing grants for legal programs.
• Expertise in systemic advocacy, policy work, and complex litigation.
• Admitted to the California Bar.

Highly Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience addressing legal issues impacting rural, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and low-income populations.
• Familiarity with community lawyering principles and advocacy metrics.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in CRLA’s client communities.

COMPENSATION & 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. 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 nonunion and the estimated starting salary range for this position is $135,000 – 186,000.

CRLA requires that all employees are 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.

CRLA invites all applicants to submit their resume and in their cover letter a statement about how their 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