Directing Attorney

Description

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: Justice Center Director
• Reports to: Associate Director – Rural Justice Program
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location: Marysville CRLA Justice Center
• Term of Employment: Regular, Full-Time
• Other: FLSA Exempt, Non-Union-Eligible Position

The Justice Center Director leads the operations and advocacy efforts of a CRLA Justice Center. CRLA’s Rural Justice Program provides direct legal services, place-based advocacy to expand equity in civic institutions, and specialized litigation to advance civil rights via a network of 17 Rural Justice Centers. The Justice Center Director is a critical leadership role in ensuring alignment with CRLA’s community lawyering principles and systemic advocacy goals. This role involves supervising a multidisciplinary team, managing a personal caseload, and fostering local partnerships to address systemic inequities and empower communities. In addition to their direct reports, the Director ensures the Justice Center is an equity-focused space where clients and community members can access the full range of CRLA services and connect to the broader resources within CRLA’s justice grid

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Supervise attorneys, community workers, and support staff to deliver impactful advocacy. Lead team meetings, case reviews, and strategy discussions. Develop office workplans and other tools to guide and align staff efforts.
• Community Engagement: Build trust and partnerships with local organizations and community leaders to inform advocacy efforts and expand CRLA’s reach. Serve as a community leader and trusted partner in external community spaces. Represent CRLA in public forums, policy discussions, and community events.
• Direct Advocacy: Design and oversee initiatives that empower community members to participate in identifying systemic issues and crafting solutions, including facilitating and supporting a local advisory committee (Comité). Maintain an active caseload, contributing to affirmative litigation, policy advocacy, and other systemic advocacy efforts.
• Justice Center Operations: Oversee the implementation of annual work plans, ensuring compliance with CRLA policies, LSC regulations, and ethical standards. Oversee building management ensuring facility requests are addressed. Ensure collaboration across CRLA staff co-located at the Justice Center.
• Collaboration: Facilitate resource sharing and collaboration with other Justice Centers and CRLA programs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of 2 years of program management or supervisory experience.
• At least 5 years in advocacy roles, the majority of which should be experience as an attorney.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse community groups.
• Admitted to the California Bar or willing to take the next California Bar Exam.

HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven commitment to social justice and equity.
• Familiarity with systemic advocacy and legal issues impacting rural, BIPOC, LGBTQ , and low-income communities.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language relevant to CRLA’s clients.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; the estimated starting annual salary range for this position is: $88,000 - 132,0000 (placement in range is primarily determined by years of related experience). 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. Some professional dues are paid by CRLA (Bar Fees) and, if qualified, up to $8,000 law school Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP). 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).

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.

Qualifications

Salary : $88,000 - $1,320,000