Staff Attorney

The Watsonville Law Center (WLC) is a nonprofit legal aid organization providing free legal services to low-income households in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. WLC works closely with community and health care partners to address legal and social determinants of health including access to housing, health, employment, immigration justice, and economic equity.

Staff Attorney will provide legal services and programs for a community-based nonprofit legal aid office serving a diverse community. This position reports to the Watsonville Law Center Legal Director. The ideal candidate has experience in any of the following consumer, employment, record clearance, housing, administrative law and/or public benefits law.

This position has shown dedication and experience working with immigrants, women, children, schools, healthcare systems, and the broader community.

This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to address equal access to justice and build expertise in working in the legal sector. For a highly organized applicant who has demonstrated productivity, WLC will negotiate flexibility in hours and work schedule. This is a hybrid in-person/remote position.

LOCATION:

Responsibilities

• Conduct and Supervise client interviews, case review and provide advice.

• Represent low-income clients in state and federal court in cases at every stage of litigation, including motions, discovery, ADR, and trials.

• Staff community-based clinics to provide legal services to low-income families.

• Assist with other firm needs, such as supervising volunteers and interns, participating in firm-wide projects, and helping with grant applications and reporting.

• Make systemic change through impact litigation and policy work.

• Assign and help manage supervisees caseloads.

• Assist in identifying potential litigation cases arising from direct services work and assisting in impact litigation efforts in with pro bono attorney or other nonprofit litigation partners.

• Assist in determining appropriate case stories for use in reports, advocacy materials, and public education.

• Assist in the preparation of program reports, including tracking and reporting on the outcomes of WLC services.

Qualifications

• J.D.; admitted and in good standing with the California Bar.

• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills, bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

• A demonstrated commitment to equal access to justice, and public interest law.

• Experience in moving legal cases forward, excellent organizational skills, and demonstrated ability to build and manage a heavy caseload.

• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations.

• Able to work a flexible schedule including occasional evenings and weekends with prior notice.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience working with low income, multi-cultural, immigrant communities.

• Must be able to travel to different locations where WLC serves clients and the community.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The following describes general working conditions and requirements, which may be performed with or without disability-related reasonable accommodations:

• Duties are performed generally in an office (or home office, if working remotely), but may include partner offices, courthouses, health care facilities, community agencies, and similar locations.

• Staff must be able to transport themselves to work-related locations.

• Carrying out duties generally requires sitting, attending meetings in person and online, sustained typing and use of electronic equipment, and sustained attention to detail.

• Ability to lift and move 25 pounds (case files, office and meeting materials, and similar)

• WLC is a pet-friendly office environment and may occasionally include the presence of well-behaved pets and support animals in the workplace.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any characteristic protected by law. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $73,000.00 - $83,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Language:

• Spanish (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Watsonville, CA 95076 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Watsonville, CA 95076: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Watsonville, CA 95076

Salary : $73,000 - $83,000