Description:

The Position:
Guided by a mission of gender justice, we partner with our clients to vindicate their rights and build power in their workplaces. Recognizing the high incidence of poverty in the LGBTQ community, particularly as experienced by people of color and in rural and underserved areas, LAAW works to eliminate barriers to full and equal participation in employment based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and interlocking types of oppression. Our clients include women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, military veterans, survivors of harassment and domestic and sexual violence, and other under-represented individuals.

The Gender Equity & LGBTQ Rights Program serves hundreds of clients a year providing advice and referral and representing them in efforts to resolve disputes directly with employers and at the administrative level with state and federal agencies. The Program has an active litigation docket, bringing individual and class actions in state and federal court. The team also provides technical assistance to community partners; engages in community education and works in coalition with other legal aid organizations to advance the rights of workers.

Responsibilities:
Legal Aid at Work seeks a Staff Attorney in our Gender Equity & LGBTQ Rights Program who will join our organization in the fight to achieve justice for women and the LGBTQ community through the vigorous advancement and enforcement of civil rights and employment laws.

With oversight from the Program Director, the Staff Attorney may be involved in all aspects of the Program's activities including, but not limited to the following:

Investigating, developing, initiating and litigating enforcement and impact cases with a particular focus on serving clients in the Central Valley of California;
Using legal strategies to support worker centers and other community partners;
Assisting with the Program's direct services work, including responding to helpline calls and representing clients in limited and full legal representation with administrative agencies;
Assisting the Program Director and other team members with developing strategy for the program;
Conducting community outreach and education in conjunction with community partners;
Participating in coalition meetings and other activities to advance coalition building;
On occasion, coaching and mentoring law clerks and fellows.

Due to organizational priorities and funding requirements, the Staff attorney will spend about 40% of their time on cases and advocacy impacting communities in the Central Valley, therefore attorneys with ties to and/or understanding of the Central Valley and its population are strongly encouraged to apply. This position requires someone who is bilingual in Spanish.

Requirements:
The following list of core competencies and experiences is provided to share insight into the requirements of the role and the general level of experience we seek in candidates. We encourage all qualified candidates and those with relevant or transferable experience to apply, even if you do not bring experience in all of the areas noted below.

Candidates must be active members of the California State Bar, or be willing to take the next California Bar Examination if currently a member of another state bar. Candidates may be located anywhere in the state of California. A majority of our staff work remotely. Strong preference will be given to applicants with personal or professional experience working with impacted communities.

Demonstrated commitment to social justice and civil rights work; a passion for Legal Aid at Work's mission of seeking justice for low-wage workers;
3 to 5 years of litigation experience;
Strong relationships with community-based organizations and experience working with low-wage worker and/or LGBTQ, and/or immigrant communities;
Experience with investigation, case development, and litigation including working with administrative agencies, discovery, motion practice, hearings, trials and/or appeals in California and/or federal courts;
The ability to work collaboratively on a small team of attorneys and paralegals;
Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, and prioritizing competing deadlines;
Willingness to develop projects on their own initiative;
Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills;
Bilingual in Spanish;
The ability to think strategically about the role of a legal nonprofit in supporting grassroots organizing efforts;
A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the ability to hold and foster difficult and necessary conversations about sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other protected categories;
A commitment to racial equity work and incorporating racial equity principles into legal advocacy;
Ability to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive issues and to maintain confidentiality;
Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, leadership, and organizational abilities;
Willingness to supervise and mentor law students;
The ability to travel as necessary within California and to other parts of the country for litigation, speaking events, meetings, and conferences.