Managing Attorney, California Clean Slate Programs

The Access Project, Inc., a startup non-profit legal services provider, is seeking a California-licensed attorney to direct our post-conviction relief programs, including our flagship Rising Scholars program, which serves justice-impacted community college students throughout California.

About The Access Project

The Access Project was founded in 2019 to transform the role of the pro bono community in the effort to increase access to justice. We use technology and human-centered design principles to create effective tools to scale legal services.

We are a small but growing organization. There will be substantial opportunities for advancement, including the opportunity to be considered for the Executive Director role in 2-3 years.

About the Position

The Managing Attorney for Clean Slate Programs will oversee our burgeoning California clean slate services program. The Managing Attorney will assume responsibility for our established Rising Scholars Clean Slate program, which delivers post-conviction relief to thousands community college students throughout the state, using our proprietary RAP analysis tool and volunteer services platform.

The Managing Attorney will collaborate with the Executive Director on developing new avenues for applying our program to scale services and will be The Access Project’s representative in coalition-wide efforts to improve post-conviction remedies and access to justice.

The student communications coordinator and petition filing clerk will report to the Managing Attorney.

The Ideal Candidate

• is passionate about improving access to justice
• is knowledgeable (or eager to learn) about using technology to scale access to justice
• is knowledgeable (or eager to learn) about low-code and no-code technology solutions
• is knowledgeable (or eager to learn) about human-centered program design
• is interested in data-grounded policy advocacy
• has writing and speaking skills and can adapt communications style for economically, socially, and experientially diverse audiences. You need to be equally adept at chatting with a senior partner at a top-10 law firm, gathering information from a clerk at a county courthouse, arguing before a superior court judge, and empathizing with a person on parole who has been incarcerated for most of their lives.
• is eager to advance in the legal services field and is looking for opportunities for lead

Job Description

Manage Rising Scholars Clean Slate Program

• coordinate with California Community Colleges to provide clean slate services to justice-impacted students at CCCs
• organize and lead Know-Your-Rights and program kickoff events at participating schools
• organize and lead trainings and workshops for pro bono volunteers
• review and correct volunteer work in volunteer portal
• manage student declaration program, including directing students’ efforts, assigning volunteers, and reviewing declarations
• oversee student communications and respond to students' legal questions; supervise student communications coordinator
• hold one-to-one virtual meetings with students before petition filing
• oversee case filing; supervise filing clerk
• produce progress and outcome reports for all stakeholders
• manage relationships with DAs, public defenders, and court staff
• maintain content on Rising Scholars Clean Slate website

Collaborate on other California clean slate opportunities

With Executive Director, consider other avenues for scaling post-conviction services, including

• know your rights presentations to community partners
• training sessions with volunteer partners
• distribution of the RAP analysis tool to other legal services organizations
• expansion of existing programs beyond Rising Scholars

Represent The Access Project in re-entry legal services groups

• attend re-entry group meetings
• track and comment on legislation
• attend and/or speak at legal services and tech conferences as requested by the Executive Director

Analyze and report on results

• track and report on client outcomes
• analyze data for use in potential legislative advocacy and process implementation recommendations

Requirements

• Applicants must be members in good standing of the California bar and must have 2 or more years of experience in litigation. (We will consider experience in law school clinics, internships or externships addressing criminal justice issues, or experience as a paralegal working in criminal law).
• Applicants may become eligible for hybrid work schedules, but a significant amount of in-office time is required to oversee petition filing. Therefore applicants must be able to commute regularly to The Access Project office in Richmond, California.
• Applicants must be able to climb stairs as the office is on the second floor of a building without an elevator. Reasonable accommodations will be made as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Applicants must be licensed drivers. Travel to community colleges all over California is required.

Who Should Apply

The Access Project especially welcomes applications from formerly incarcerated or otherwise system-impacted persons or their family members.

·     Generous PTO and holiday schedule

·     Paid health insurance premiums

·     Paid bar dues and professional liability insurance

·     Flexible work schedule may be available after orientation period

·     Significant opportunities for advancement and exposure in the broader legal services community, such as speaking roles at key conferences and legislative advocacy leadership.