CCLS Directing Attorney - Housing Law

Central California Legal Services; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Central California Legal Services in Fresno is seeking a Directing Attorney to lead the Housing Law Team under the supervision of the Director of Litigation & Advocacy. The role focuses on protecting tenant rights through litigation, advocacy, and community legal education.

The position requires California Bar membership, at least five years of practice, and strong leadership to coordinate staff, volunteers, and partners while pursuing racially equitable solutions for clients.

Qualifications

• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California and Eastern District of California.
• Minimum 5 years of legal practice.
• Experience litigating in various forums, including State and federal courts.
• Excellent litigation skills.
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Embrace and uphold the organizational and team specific vision, and execute through proper planning and coordination.
• Supervise, mentor, and coordinate training of supervising attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, support staff, and volunteers.
• Oversee representation of clients in state and federal administrative and court proceedings.
• Develop impact and/or affirmative litigation and co-counsel with pro bono counsel as needed.
• Represent the organization through development and maintenance of relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, and courts.

Skills

Litigation skills

Oral advocacy

Written advocacy

Leadership

Team collaboration

Communication

Job description

Description

Full-time

Reports to

Director of Litigation & Advocacy

FLSA Status Full-Time, Exempt (Non-Union position)

Application Deadline Until Filled

Salary $98,819.53 to $117,844.13 per year

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Central California Legal Services (CCLS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 1966 for the purpose of providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals. CCLS core counties include Fresno, Kings, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare, and Tuolumne. CCLS’s health work also extends to San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Stanislaus counties. In Madera County, CCLS provides limited services to seniors and on health issues. CCLS has offices in Fresno, Merced, and Visalia, and satellite offices in Mendota and Los Banos. With nearly one hundred (100) employees, CCLS’s work includes direct services that meet our clients’ immediate needs, education, and advocacy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Directing Attorney will be one of two leaders of the Housing Law Team, both of whom will be under the supervision of the Director of Litigation & Advocacy (DOLA). The Directing Attorney will provide thoughtful leadership on housing issues, including but not limited to representation of clients in unlawful detainer actions, habitability situations, and other landlord/tenant problems. The Directing Attorney will also play a role in deciding the circumstances that require policy and/or systems-change remedies and the ways in which CCLS’s work can drive a racially equitable solution. The Directing Attorney will be expected to strategize and determine the most effective tools to use in each case or issue(s) at hand – e.g., litigation, advocacy, community legal education, while maintaining an appropriate balance between the individual and the impact work.

CCLS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, other non-merit factor or any categories protected by law. We encourage all interested individuals to apply. CCLS is subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Requirements

DUTIES

• Embrace and uphold the organizational and team specific vision, and execute through proper planning and coordination.
• Supervise, mentor, and coordinate training of supervising attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, support staff, and volunteers.
• Reinforce and maintain staff accountability related to a high standard of quality legal work.
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
• Monitor and maintain a high standard of representation and client services.
• Conduct team meetings and regular attorney and paralegal case review.
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies.
• Oversee representation of clients in state and federal administrative and court proceedings.
• Evaluate conflicting demands and prioritize workload.
• Develop impact and/or affirmative litigation and co-counsel with pro bono counsel as needed.
• Maintain a reasonable individual caseload as determined by supervisor.
• Facilitate and participate in collaboration across the program.
• Work with the pro bono program and pro bono volunteers to amplify impact.
• Assist with the fundraising and development, implementation, and reporting of programs.
• Prepare and submit necessary grant reporting paperwork.
• Represent the organization through development and maintenance of support and relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials and courts.
• Assist with planning and conducting city-wide and statewide coalition meetings and task forces.
• Identify office needs and resources needed for the organization and participate in management team responsibilities to meet those needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California and Eastern District of California.
• Minimum 5 years of legal practice.
• Experience litigating in various forums, including State and federal courts.
• Excellent litigation skills.
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills.
• Supervising, management and/or academic teaching experience preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team model.
• Comfortable working under pressure; on a team or independently; passionate about the work, inquisitive, and analytical.
• Pro bono, government, public service, and/or academic experience preferred.
• Experience working with low-income clients, collaborating effectively with diverse groups of individuals and organizations, and connecting and strategizing with local community leaders.
• Previous Legal Aid or other non-profit legal services experience desirable.
• Bilingual ability preferred.
• Ability to travel as needed, proof of liability and property insurance on vehicle used.

Salary Description

$98,819 to $117,844 per year