Staff Attorney - Temporary

Cora; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

CORA, located in San Mateo County, seeks a Staff Attorney to provide legal assistance and representation to survivors of intimate partner violence in family and related criminal cases. The role collaborates with the legal team and program staff and reports to the Senior Manager of Legal Services.

This is a temporary contract through approximately July 30, 2027. The ideal candidate has active CA Bar membership, strong legal analysis and advocacy skills, and experience serving survivors.

Qualifications

• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Knowledge of family and criminal court systems.
• Ability to comprehend and analyze legal information and communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Experience with survivors of intimate partner violence preferred.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
• Completion of the 40-hour training mandated by the California Office of Emergency Services (or willingness to obtain).

Responsibilities

• Represent survivors of domestic violence in family court proceedings including restraining orders and custody matters.
• Assist self-represented litigants with filing and serving forms.
• Provide legal information, brief advice, and referrals.
• Support legal team with litigation and case management.
• Mentor pro bono attorneys through county Pro Bono Collaborative.
• Provide trainings and participate in community meetings as assigned.

Skills

Legal research

Client advocacy

Communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)

Education

Active California State Bar

Tools

Word

Excel

SharePoint

PowerPoint

Job description

Date: 10/23/2026

NON-EXEMPT and TEMPORARY (approximately 6-month contract)

Reports to: Senior Manager of Legal Services

Schedule of Hours: 30 – 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Position Remote Eligible: No

Mandated Reporter: No

Benefits Eligible: No

Hourly Rate: $50.00 per hour

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

As the only agency in San Mateo County with the sole purpose of serving those experiencing intimate partner abuse, CORA provides safety, support and healing. CORA's comprehensive services include a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, legal services and family-centered mental health therapy. In addition, CORA provides community education and prevention programming throughout the county. CORA is a multicultural agency committed to serving individuals, regardless of age, ethnicity/race, financial status, language, sexual orientation, immigration status, class, religion, gender, gender expression, mental or physical ability.

POSITION SUMMARY

This Staff Attorney will be a vital member of CORA’s legal team. An essential part of the position will be to provide legal assistance and representation to victims/survivors of intimate partner abuse with family law and related criminal law issues. The prospective candidate must share a passion for our mission, be an adaptable, self-reflective, empathetic team player with strong interpersonal skills, and have a desire to support the needs of survivors. This position works closely with the legal team and program staff, while reporting directly to the Senior Manager of Legal Services. This is a temporary contract position lasting approximately 6 months. The anticipated timeframe is February 1, 2027 – July 30, 2027. The position may start earlier and/or end later depending on agency need and candidate availability if mutually agreed.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Service:

• Represent survivors of domestic violence in family court proceedings, including restraining order, child custody and support, and parentage cases in San Mateo County.
• Assist self-represented litigants with preparing, filing, and serving forms associated with their family law case.
• Provide supportive services including legal information, brief advice, and referrals to callers to CORA’s legal information line.
• Support legal team with litigation and case management.
• Mentor pro bono attorneys through the San Mateo County Domestic Violence Pro Bono Collaborative.
• Provide professional training to groups (staff/volunteers, law enforcement, partner agencies, etc.) and participate in community meetings as assigned by supervisor.
• Communicate tactfully and effectively while advocating for clients with law enforcement, courts, district attorney, opposing counsel and other community agencies.
• Collect and maintain statistical records on services provided, as required by Grants Officer and funders, and ensure compliance with funding requirements.

Other Duties:

• Maintain the confidentiality of client, staff, volunteer, and agency information.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with clients and other staff.
• Work closely with other CORA departments in order to best serve clients and the community.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
• Knowledge of family and criminal court systems, and systems advocacy.
• Ability to comprehend and analyze legal information, including statutes and case law, and communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Previous experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking in Civil, Family or Criminal Court preferred.
• Previous experience working with diverse staff and clientele, including those who have experienced trauma or who are in crisis, in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner.
• Strong work ethic, self-directed, able to manage multiple tasks independently and as a member of a team.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint and PowerPoint.
• Bilingual in oral and written English/Spanish preferred.
• Completion of the 40-hour training mandated by the California Office of Emergency Services. Candidates who have not completed the 40-hour training will be required to do so and will be provided by CORA.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Valid CA Driver’s license, insurance and ability to drive own vehicle for work purposes to travel within San Mateo County.
• Background check, including fingerprinting clearance from the Department of Justice.
• Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States.

MANDATED REPORTER STATUS

This position is not subject to mandated reporting under California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). Such a report, including sharing information with another employee who is a mandated reporter position without following "release of confidential information" policies is a breach of confidentiality is a violation of state and federal law and can result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

CORA History and Overview

CORA has provided services to survivors of intimate partner abuse for nearly 40 years. Our programs include Crisis Intervention Services, including a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, and supportive counseling. Family Support Services provides mental health therapy, supportive/transitional housing, and a children’s program. CORA has robust legal services for survivors of domestic violence and provides educational workshops about the dynamics of domestic violence and healthy relationship skills.

CORA is strengths-based, collaborative, accessible, and client-centered. CORA believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect in their intimate relationships. We provide safety, support and healing to individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship and educate the community to break the cycle of domestic violence. Regardless of a survivor’s race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, we save lives and provide an opportunity to begin again.

CORA inspires work of the highest caliber by fostering staff engagement through transparency and inclusion in agency decisions wherever possible. We strive to ensure our policies and communications reflect an appreciation of the impact of social inequities, historical and current, and actively promote healthy relationships amongst staff by demonstrating mutual respect in all our communications.

CORA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We seek diversity with respect to race, color, age, sex, (including breastfeeding and medical conditions related to breastfeeding), religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic characteristics and information, ancestry, marital status, family status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), medical condition, military, or veteran status or any other category or status protected by Federal, State or other applicable laws. All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and/or survivors of domestic violence are strongly encouraged to apply. The position will remain open until filled.