Overview
A legal services organization focused on anti-poverty law is seeking a Staff Attorney to provide post-conviction legal services to low-income individuals facing eviction, housing insecurity, substandard housing conditions, or other housing barriers in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, California. This full-time, exempt, union position offers remote work.
Responsibilities
- Provide full-scope legal representation to individuals seeking to clear their criminal records.
- Conduct Know Your Rights presentations and community outreach on record clearing options.
- Organize and participate in record clearing clinics within the service areas.
- Develop and improve workflows for the record clearing clinic model.
- Screen workshop participants for additional services and make referrals to internal staff or external partners.
- Prepare, organize, and file legal documents related to record clearing cases.
- Monitor case progress, including hearing dates and court decisions, coordinating with public defenders or volunteer attorneys as needed.
- Create and deliver training on record clearing procedures and legal theory.
- Maintain an active caseload representing clients in the Santa Barbara and Ventura service areas.
- Participate in case review meetings to ensure quality and consistency with organizational priorities and policies.
- Stay current on record clearing and post-conviction laws.
- Collaborate on project service evaluations and assist with grant reporting and development efforts.
Requirements
- Admission to practice law in California or willingness to take the California Bar Exam.
- Commitment to serving low-income clients and social justice causes.
- Empathy for the client community.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong public speaking skills, particularly for group trainings and presentations.
- Superior organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Lived experience with the criminal legal system and/or housing instability.
- Experience working with diverse racial and cultural groups.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed intake and service delivery practices.
- Extensive knowledge of California expungement and resentencing laws, including statutes, case law, and procedural requirements.
- Experience with workshop or clinic legal service delivery models.
- Experience in record clearing and post-conviction work, including expungement, arrest record sealing, felony reduction, Proposition 47, Proposition 64, Certificates of Rehabilitation, and resentencing laws.
- Experience training and supervising private attorneys, paralegals, law students, or volunteers in civil legal aid.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $73,000 to $104,000, based on years admitted to practice law and relevant experience.
- Competitive public interest salary scale.
- Comprehensive benefits package including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance for employees; up to 50% coverage for dependents.
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution effective immediately.
- Some professional dues paid (e.g., Bar Fees).
- Law School Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP) up to $8,000 if qualified.
- Generous paid leave: 15 days sick leave, 15 holidays annually, vacation accrual starting at 15 days per year, increasing to 20 days after one year.
- Union membership (Legal Service Workers for Rural California).
Additional Information
- This position requires full COVID-19 vaccination, including a CDC-approved vaccine and one booster shot, with accommodations available upon request.
- The organization is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and encourages applications from women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.
Location
- Remote work with service focus on Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, California.