Description:

A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents's Reentry Practice: We provide wrap-around legal services to individuals with arrest or conviction histories causing barriers to successful reintegration into society. Many of our clients experience significant barriers to housing and employment. We address the many and varied collateral consequences of criminal convictions and incarceration through legal representation across a wide array of practice areas, including criminal record remedies, suspended driver's license, traffic court debt, public benefits, housing denials due to criminal record, employment and occupational license denials, and consumer issues.

A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents seeks a attorney with a strong commitment to public interest and social justice advocacy to help mitigate collateral consequences of the criminal legal system. This position serves residents in Contra Costa County. It will be based in either our Richmond office. This position requires travel to all parts of both counties as necessary to best serve our low-income clients. There may be travel within A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents's broader service areas for the purposes of meeting with clients in transportation challenged areas and as necessary for training and broader advocacy.

Staff Attorney - Duties and Responsibilities:

Learn and advocate for the diverse legal needs of communities affected by systemic and structural inequities in Contra Costa Counties and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability and address social injustice.
Represent clients in matters including driver's license suspension, traffic debt, criminal record remedies, housing, public benefits, consumer, employment, and other civil legal cases as needed on behalf of individuals who were formerly incarcerated.
Coordinate reentry and traffic legal clinics.
Provide workshops and technical assistance to community partners and client community on civil legal barriers imposed by the criminal justice system and the rights and options available to mitigate them.
Develop relationships and engage in collaboration with a range of public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, courts, and community-based organizations, to ensure integrative services and collaboratively address systemic barriers to reentry.
Work closely with A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents's development, grants and contracts, and communications team to promote A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents's mission and resource development; and
Engage in other tasks and projects that further A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents's operations as a non-profit.

Requirements/Qualifications/About the Successful Candidate:

Humility in working with colleagues and clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited English proficiency.
Commitment to complying with all California Rules of Professional Conduct, A Free Civil Legal Services to Low-Income Residents funding requirements, and firm standards, policies, and practices.
Current proficiency, and ability to improve proficiency, in technological equipment, hardware and software necessary to perform duties of the position.
Understanding of how structural racism pervades the criminal legal system and disproportionately impacts communities of color. Demonstrated commitment to working with formerly incarcerated individuals
Member of CA Bar in good standing or admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for 3 years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program.

Candidates who have recently passed the CA Bar or graduated and will be taking the bar exam at the next sitting are welcome to apply.

Must have received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by date of hire to be considered.
Experience and skills maintaining organization of time, managing diverse activities, and meeting critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
Experience and skills to simultaneously manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with ability to be detail-oriented
Experience and commitment to working collaboratively with a dynamic team
Skilled in clear, concise, and effective communication with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, including in writing, meetings, and public presentations.
Curious and self-directed with an ability to anticipate what needs to be done