Legal Director

Job Details

Job Location
Salinas Office - Salinas, CA

Position Type
Full Time

Job Category
Legal

Description

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. offers radically necessary services that vindicate the rights of the rural poor. 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 Legal Director of the Rural Justice Unit is a unique leadership opportunity for an attorney committed to community-centered advocacy to lead a team of 13 field offices in providing services to marginalized rural communities. The Legal Director is responsible for developing CRLA's advocacy vision and tone in the Rural Justice Unit and ensuring delivery of high-quality legal services commensurate with that vision.

• Position: Legal Director
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location:
• Other: FLSA Exempt, Non-Union Position, Full Time

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversight and supervision of staff and advocacy of all Rural Justice Unit field offices and staff.
• Supervise and guide Directing Attorney's advocacy work, including assessing legal needs and reviewing and editing litigation-related documents. The Legal Director 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.
• Supervise and guide Directing Attorney's managerial work, including evaluating staff and developing and implementing professional development plans to ensure strong management skills.
• Develop and implement the Rural Justice Unit work plan and/or work plans for each substantive area handled by the Rural Justice Unit team. The work plan serves as a blueprint for change advocacy and sets out a results-oriented program that blends various advocacy approaches to impact change locally, nationally, and statewide.
• Conduct periodic case review meetings with field offices to monitor for quality legal services and compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
• 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.
• Litigating impact cases as lead or co-counsel or otherwise working on systemic advocacy.
• Develop camaraderie and collaboration between team members in multiple locations.
• In collaboration with the CRLA Leadership Team, coordinate the general administration of the Rural Justice Unit, including developing and overseeing the Rural Justice Unit budget.
• Collaborate with other CRLA Legal Directors as appropriate.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of five (5) years experience practicing law, preferably in the CRLA Priority areas of housing, employment, education, rural health, or similar
• Minimum of five (5) 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
• Admitted to the California Bar, or any other State Bar and willingness to take the next California Bar Exam

HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment, compensation based on competitive public interest salaries, and a generous benefits package. CRLA's 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; CRLA's student loan reimbursement program; employee assistance program; employer-paid CA Bar license; and 401k retirement plan with CRLA contribution effectively immediately. CRLA has a generous paid leave policy which includes; 15 days of sick leave, 15 holidays each year, and vacation (starting at 15 days and increasing to 20 days after one year of service at CRLA).

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.

California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. 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.