Staff Attorney Tenants Rights Program

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Position: Staff Attorney (Clinics)

Reports to: Tenants’ Rights Directing 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 an array of community outreach, and policy initiatives. We are seeking an experienced attorney to provide leadership and innovation for our team of Tenants’ Rights advocates.

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 bi-weekly drop-in clinics;
• 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. Qualifications include:
• J.D; admitted and in good standing with the California bar;
• Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, or Vietnamese preferred, but not required;
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in housing law or public interest litigation;
• Knowledge and adherence to community lawyering principles;
• Strong leadership skills;
• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills;
• A demonstrated commitment to civil liberties, tenants’ rights, and public interest law;
• 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;
• Willingness to conduct training and outreach activities in the community as needed;
• Experience working with Bay Area law firms is desired but not required; and
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members across organization, and diverse community organizations, stakeholders and policymakers.

Compensation

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. We provide a generous benefits package, including life insurance, LTD, leave policies, vacation, and December holiday office closure at full pay.

To Apply

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Submit via email only: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) a list of three professional references. Include “Tenants’ Rights Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Please email application materials directly to jobs@centrolegal.org

POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED

About Centro Legal de la Raza

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Oakland, California, Centro Legal de la Raza (Centro Legal) is a comprehensive legal services and advocacy organization protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant, low-income, and Latino communities through bilingual representation, education, and advocacy. We combine quality legal services with know-your-rights education, affirmative litigation, and youth development, ensuring access to justice for thousands of individuals and families each year throughout Northern and Central California.

For more information, visit our website: https://centrolegal.org/

Diversity 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 within and ensuring a workplace where all staff can flourish and grow professionally and well beyond. Our staff are the most important part of our ability to achieve our mission. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation, sustainability and our organization’s 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 including genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability, military or veteran status, marital status, family responsibilities, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including transgender status), gender expression, weight, height, linguistic characteristics (such as accent and limited English proficiency where not substantially job-related), citizenship status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, HIV/AIDs status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Centro also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that an individual has any of the characteristics of the protected classes listed above, and further prohibits discrimination against an individual who is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics.