Staff Attorney Contra Costa County

Centro Legal de la Raza; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Kaiser employer-paid coverage + depend

Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA

Job summary

Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland, CA seeks a Tenants’ Rights Staff Attorney to launch eviction defense in Contra Costa County. You will directly represent low-income tenants in unlawful detainer trials and admin hearings, supervise clinics, and deliver know-your-rights presentations.

The role requires a J.D. and California bar, strong leadership, excellent writing and research skills, and a commitment to civil liberties and community justice.

Qualifications

• J.D; admitted and in good standing with the California bar.
• Strong leadership, writing, research, and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to civil liberties, tenants’ rights and public interest law.
• Ability to work with lawyers, staff and diverse community organizations.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion within the office.

Responsibilities

• Directly representing low-income tenants in unlawful detainer trials and appeals.
• Directly representing low-income tenants in administrative hearings.
• Supervising and/or providing consultations at clinics and workshops.
• Providing Know Your Rights presentations to community organizations.
• Representing Centro Legal de la Raza at community events and hearings.

Skills

Leadership skills

Writing skills

Research skills

Verbal communication

Collaboration with diverse communities

Crisis/trauma aware work

Diversity & inclusion awareness

Education

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

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time 3400 E. 12th Street Oakland, CA, US

30+ days ago Requisition ID: 1004

Salary Range: $75,321.00 To $89,731.00 Annually

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Position

Tenants’ Rights Staff Attorney- Contra Costa

Reports to: Tenants’ Rights Managing Attorney

Bargaining Unit: Yes

FLSA: Exempt

Position Summary

Our Tenants’ Rights Practice works to stop displacement and stabilize our communities through eviction defense, drop-in legal clinics, affirmative litigation, administrative hearings before rent boards, know-your-rights presentations and community outreach, and policy initiatives. We are seeking staff attorneys to join our team in providing high quality legal services to low-income tenants as we launch an eviction defense practice in Contra Costa County.

Primary responsibilities

• Directly representing low-income tenants in unlawful detainer trials and appeals;
• Directly representing low-income tenants in administrative hearings;
• Supervising and/or providing consultations at clinics and workshops;
• Providing Know Your Rights presentations to community-based organizations; and
• Representing Centro Legal de la Raza and its clients at community events, stakeholder meetings, City Council hearings, etc.

Qualifications

The applicant must profoundly share Centro Legal’s mission and vision of racial, economic and social justice. Additional qualifications include:

• J.D; admitted and in good standing with the California bar;
• Knowledge and adherence to community lawyering principles;
• Strong leadership skills;
• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to civil liberties, tenants’ rights, and public interest law;
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations;
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity within the office and a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences regarding race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, immigration status, and record of arrest or conviction;
• Familiarity in working with clients in crisis or who are trauma survivors;
• Commitment to and understanding of how intersectionality plays a role in client and staff experiences; and
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members across organization, and diverse community organizations, stakeholders and policymakers.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $75.841-$89,114 commensurate with experience.

Benefits and Perks

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include: medical, dental, vision, long term disability and life insurance.

Centro Legal provides 100% employer-paid Kaiser medical coverage for employees, and 50% coverage for dependents, spouses, and partners. Alternative plans through UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser are also available at an additional premium cost.

Additional Benefits include: Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, pet insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.

*PTO: Vacation: 0-1 year 16 days per year, 1-2 year 18 days per year, Over 2 years 23 days per year, (1) paid wellness days per month, 12 sick days per year.

*Office Closure: 12 holidays + 8 work days, to include the period from December 24th through January 1st

*4 Day Workweek Pilot: during the pilot Centro’s operating hours are Monday - Thursday, 9am-5pm.

*Note: Centro Legal de la Raza is currently engaged in collective bargaining. As such, certain benefits, including time-off policies, are subject to change based on ongoing negotiations.

COVID 19 Policy

Centro Legal requires all employees to comply with current state and local public health guidelines. Proof of vaccination may be required, with accommodations for medical or religious reasons.

Working & Physical Requirements

Hybrid working environment, including regular in-person attendance at events

Prolonged periods of desk and computer work, frequent communication by phone, email, video, and in person, with occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs such as files or office supplies.

Standard business hours with occasional evenings required to support clinics, hearings, and community events.

Other Duties

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties may change based on organizational and programmatic needs.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Oakland, California, Centro Legal de la Raza (“Centro Legal”) is a comprehensive legal services and advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant, low-income, and Latino communities through bilingual legal representation, education, and advocacy.

Centro Legal combines high-quality legal services with know-your-rights education, affirmative litigation, and youth development, helping ensure access to justice for thousands of individuals and families throughout Northern and Central California each year.

Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Centro Legal’s mission includes advancing social, economic, and racial justice. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to maintaining a workplace where all staff can flourish and grow professionally.

Our staff are essential to our ability to achieve our mission. The collective sum of our employees’ individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talents represents a significant part of our culture, reputation, sustainability, and organizational success.

Centro Legal is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, medical condition, genetic information, mental or physical disability, military or veteran status, marital status, family responsibilities, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, immigration status, primary language, weight, height, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, HIV/AIDS status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Centro Legal also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that an individual has any protected characteristic or because an individual is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, a protected characteristic.