JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

 

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ENTRY-LEVEL HOUSING STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION

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California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation seeks a Tenants’ Rights Staff Attorney to join our Labor & Civil Rights Litigation Unit.

 

Location: Sacramento, California

Position Start Date: Immediately

 

California’s rural populations experience a dramatic justice gap. The COVID-19 pandemic further aggravated the precarious economic and housing situation of mixed-status families. Unique among legal aid organizations, CRLAF represents clients regardless of their immigration status, and focuses on class action cases that assist hundreds of tenants at a time.

 

CRLAF represents farmworkers and other low-wage rural workers and their families in landlord tenant disputes such as: issues around habitability, wrongful evictions, employer-owned housing matters, labor camps, and mobile park related matters, including park conversions.

 

The Staff Attorney will play a critical role in the continued development and implementation of the housing project, including advocacy and litigation on behalf of low-income tenants in rural California, community education and leadership development, as well as collaboration with other governmental and nonprofit agencies.

 

Responsibilities:  

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for working with CRLAF’s Litigation Unit to develop new cases and represent clients in existing cases ranging from class action and impact litigation, to individual representation and other duties as assigned. Although CRLAF represents clients throughout California, this position will focus on housing cases and issues in the Sacramento Valley.

 

Primary Responsibilities:  

• Identifying and handling housing cases for impact litigation.

• Directly representing low-income tenants in unlawful detainer trials.

• Interviewing low-income tenants and providing brief legal services as needed.

• Providing Know Your Rights Presentations to community-based organizations and tenants.

• Creating and maintaining relationships with local community based organizations.

 

Qualifications: 

• Candidates should have a JD and membership in the California State Bar, or with bar membership pending.

• Minimum 1-year experience in housing law or public interest litigation is preferred, but not required. 

• Demonstrated knowledge or interest in issues relating to tenants’ rights.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a dynamic team.

• Strong community outreach and training skills.

• Culturally sensitive and works well with diverse, low-income populations.

• Self-starter, able to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks with attention to detail.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Prior advocacy and/or litigation experience preferred.

• Willingness to conduct training and outreach activities in the community as needed.

• Ability and willingness to travel as needed for casework and client meetings.

• Spanish/English fluency strongly preferred.

 

Compensation:

Compensation is based on a public interest salary scale for attorneys with 0 to 3 years of experience, between $65,500.00 and $70,000.00 annually. Generous benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave; law school loan repayment; and 401(k).

 

Temporary COVID-19 Remote Work: 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CRLAF team members are primarily working remotely and under detailed health and safety protocols to minimize risk of exposure. Though reopening our local offices is an evolving plan, we anticipate remaining mostly remote throughout much of 2023. All employees are expected to be available to travel to CRLAF offices and service locations as needed and in compliance with public health advisories.

 

Application Information: 

Please address resume, writing sample, and cover letter to Claudia Guzman and email to info@crlaf.org. For questions, please call (916) 446-7904 ext. 132. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer:

California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We believe everyone has something important to contribute. Respecting individual differences is an integral part of our culture and we endeavor to make our differences work for us to achieve our mission.