Directing Attorney-Economic Justice

For nearly 50 years, Bet Tzedek Legal Services has provided high-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents. Key among Bet Tzedek’s initiatives is its economic justice work to provide legal advocacy on matters that improve the economic stability of low-income community members. Bet Tzedek seeks a Directing Attorney to lead and manage two key pillars of the agency’s economic justice strategy, its Employment Rights Project (ERP) and Low-Income Tax Clinic (LITC) teams.

In 2001, Bet Tzedek created the ERP to address the wide-ranging legal needs of low-wage workers. Since then, ERP staff and volunteers have represented thousands of workers who have been illegally denied earned wages, suffered illegal retaliation for asserting their rights, and endured harassment and discrimination at the hands of their employers. Clients include domestic workers, day laborers, restaurant workers, and garment and car wash workers, among others. The ERP staff the incoming Directing Attorney would supervise serve clients by providing advice and counsel, pro per assistance, and direct representation before the Labor Commissioner, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Superior Court. In addition, ERP staff engage in education and outreach efforts, regularly holds legal clinics, and engages in policy advocacy.

Realizing the power of the State and Federal tax code to advance the economic wellbeing of individuals, Bet Tzedek expanded its commitment to economic justice by launching a Low-Income Tax Clinic (LITC). The LITC advances the agency’s mission by ensuring the fairness and integrity of the federal tax system for all taxpayers, particularly low-income individuals and taxpayers for whom English is a second language (ESL). The LITC does so by providing direct representation of individuals in tax controversies before the United States Tax Court and the IRS. In addition, the LITC engages in education and outreach efforts to promote awareness and increased utilization of credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, as well as some policy work. The LITC also provides support to community partners serving low-wage immigrant workers and other low-income community members.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled and experienced manager with a proven track record for successfully managing people, projects, and grants. The Directing Attorney will directly manage a diverse staff of 8-10 advocates (attorneys, paralegals, fellows, and support staff) in support of their advocacy efforts and professional development.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

·    In collaboration with the President & CEO, VP Legal, fellow Directing Attorneys, and program staff, identify economic justice issues impacting low-income community members, evaluate Bet Tzedek’s role in addressing those issues, and develop and deploy the advocacy strategies needed to address those legal issues.

·    Supervise and manage substantive legal work performed by staff, including intake and client representation provided by staff attorneys and support staff, by reviewing legal work, conducting case reviews, and resolving escalated client- and case-related issues to ensure client legal needs are met at the highest of standards.

·    Manage program workflows including intake, case management, assignment of cases and tasks, and monitoring and improving case handling procedures to ensure client needs are met and deliverables and goals are achieved while fostering a positive work-life balance for staff.

·    Manage and support staff by holding primary responsibility for staff onboarding, offboarding, recruiting

and hiring, training, coaching, goal-setting, evaluation, reclassifications, and performance improvement/discipline.

·    Work with Human Resources to develop clear, measurable, and achievable professional development opportunities for program staff and support staff in achieving their professional development goals.

·    Work closely with President & CEO, VP Legal, and Grants Team to identify, pursue, and fulfill funding opportunities.

·    Actively manage grants which fund programs, including being primarily responsible for translating grant deliverables into program metrics to ensure grant deliverables are met, and working with Grants Team to track and report grant deliverables.

·    Work with Impact Advocacy team to develop legislative and regulatory proposals that relate to program work and engage with lawmakers and their staff in advocating for policy initiatives.

·    Work closely within coalitions and community partners to support client and community-led campaigns, utilizing principles of community lawyering and resource allyship.

·    Work with Pro Bono Department to set metrics related to pro bono and volunteer participation, develop pro bono and volunteer opportunities for the program to meet metrics, and support staff in the training and mentoring of pro bono attorneys and volunteers.

QUALIFICATIONS

·    Licensed to practice law in California (required);

·    Minimum of five (5) years related experience/practice of law (required);

·    At least two (2) years of active practice of law in California immediately prior to application (preferred);

·    At least five (5) years of experience in employment law (including, but not limited to: wage claim adjudication/Berman hearings, plaintiff-side employment litigation, DFEH/EEOC administrative actions, and mediation) (required);

·    At least two (2) years of experience in tax law (preferred);

·    Experience in plaintiff side litigation and class action litigation (preferred);

·    Experience working with survivors of labor trafficking (preferred);

·    Knowledge of humanitarian relief remedies related to labor exploitation (preferred);

·    At least three (3) year experience managing individuals with a proven track record that includes handling orientation and onboarding, offboarding, recruiting and hiring, training, coaching, goal-setting, evaluation, and performance improvement/discipline (strongly preferred);

·    Knowledge of and commitment to community and movement lawyering principles (preferred);

·    Bilingual and biliterate in both English and Spanish (preferred);

·    Excellent people skills, including high emotional intelligence and ability to navigate difficult conversations with clarity and empathy (required);

·    Excellent project management skills and proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects (required);

·    Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners (required);

·    Exceptionally organized, self-motivated, and goal-oriented (required);

·    Experience in and understanding of grant-writing, project development, and grant compliance (preferred);

·    Understanding and commitment to Bet Tzedek’s mission of equal justice for all and Bet Tzedek’s core values of leadership, community-based advocacy, and innovation (required); and

·    Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (required).

110,000k-130,000k- DOE/DOQ

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

Bet Tzedek offers an excellent benefits package in addition to competitive salaries. These benefits currently include:

•      A generous number of paid holidays (up to 21 per year), vacation (up to 20, depending on number of years with agency), and sick days (up to 45) annually.

•      Personal and floating holidays

•      Compensatory time for exempt employees.

•      18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment.)

•      Various paid leaves

•      Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.

•      Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.

•      Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.

•      Employee-contributed 401(k) plan.

•      Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.

•      Pension Plan after 1-year of service.

•      Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.

•      Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.