Case Worker

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; Coachella (CA); On-site; USD 3,320,000 - 5,158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance (employer-paid)

Dental insurance (employer-paid)

Vision insurance (employer-paid)

Life insurance (employer-paid)

Disability insurance (employer-paid)

401K retirement plan

Paid leave and holidays

Union position (LSWRC)

Job summary

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is seeking a Case Worker for its Labor and Employment Practice Area in Coachella.

Under attorney supervision, you will investigate, advocate, and support litigation-related tasks while engaging with low-income communities to ensure access to civil rights in housing, employment, health, and education. The role emphasizes client intake, field outreach, and collaboration with attorneys; travel to client communities is expected.

Qualifications

• Commitment to serving low income clients.
• Ability to use internet, database and word processing programs.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to interact productively with diverse communities.
• Owns a car and car insurance.
• Experience with community outreach.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations and gather information for cases and litigation.
• Non-lawyer advocacy representing client interests with government agencies and forums.
• Support attorneys with filings, service of process, drafting, discovery and related tasks.
• Engage in community education and services; train low-income communities in law advocacy and self-help.
• Handle client intake; interview clients and prepare simple documents; refer to appropriate services.
• Willingness to travel to reach client communities.

Skills

Communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Computer literacy

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Description

WHO WE ARE

California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty law firm that dismantles unjust systems through community lawyering in California’s historically rural areas. We work with people priced out of private legal representation so they can uphold civil rights in housing, employment, health, and public education. Through our 17 Rural Justice Centers, communities can access a broad range of legal tools, including direct legal services, place-based advocacy to expand equity in civic institutions, and specialized litigation to advance civil rights.

CRLA\'s Labor and Employment Practice Area: Working in partnership with regional teams and community-based organizations, CRLA\'s Labor and Employment Practice Area (LEPA) advances worker justice by strengthening access to employment rights information and advocacy in rural California.

• Position: Case Worker (Labor and Employment Practice Area)
• Experience: 6+ months
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location: Coachella
• Other: Full-Time, Union Position

Under the supervision of an attorney, the Case Worker will engage in the following activities within CRLA:

• Conduct investigations. Gather information through field inquiry and other research related to actual or potential cases and litigation.
• Non-lawyer advocacy representing client\'s interests with government agencies and other forums appropriate to a non-lawyer and engage in law advocacy to the extent permissible under the law and Code of Professional Ethics.
• Support attorneys in connection with lawsuits and administrative agency advocacy. This includes assisting attorneys with ministerial duties such as filing, the service of process, drafting, discovery, and other litigation-related tasks.
• Community Education and Community Services. Maintaining CRLA liaison with community organizations and community groups to ensure CRLA resources address client community needs. Training low-income communities in law advocacy and self-help efforts; educating clients regarding legal rights.
• Client Intake. Perform initial screening for client eligibility; interview clients and prepare simple documents from standard forms; assist In Pro-Per clients; make referrals where appropriate.
• Be willing to travel as necessary to reach client communities.

Other Qualifications

• Commitment to serving low income clients.
• Ability to use internet, database and computer word processing programs.
• Good communication sills.
• Ability to interact productively with diverse community populations.
• Applicants must have car and car insurance.
• Computer researching skills.
• Client interviewing skills.
• Experience with community outreach.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation & Benefits

We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; 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. Generous paid leave policy which includes; 15 days of sick leave, 12 days of wellness day off, 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). This is a union position (Legal Service Workers for Rural California "LSWRC" ), and the estimated starting hourly range for this position is $24.10 - $37.44 (placement in the range is primarily determined by years of related experience). The employee may qualify for a multilingual differential pay of $70 for oral and $50 for written, on a pay period basis.

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.