Description:

Position Summary & Responsibilities:
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 community outreach, and policy initiatives. We are seeking a 2025 law school graduate* or an attorney licensed to practice law in California to join our team in providing high quality legal services to low-income tenants in Alameda County.

Please note that this is not a time-limited fellowship position. The Legal Fellow will have the opportunity to become a staff attorney upon successfully being admitted to the California bar, consistent with the terms of our collective bargaining agreement.

Primary responsibilities will include:

Directly representing low-income tenants in unlawful detainer trials and appeals;
Directly representing low-income tenants in administrative hearings;
Directly representing low-income tenants in high-impact affirmative litigation to enforce tenants' rights in our community;
Supervising and/or providing consultations at clinics and workshops;
Providing Know Your Rights presentations to community members and trusted community-based organizations to build community knowledge about tenants' rights; 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. Additional qualifications include:

2025 law school graduate who will sit for the 2025 California Bar Exam OR J.D., admitted and in good standing with the California bar;
Fluency in Spanish (written and verbal) strongly preferred;
Knowledge of and adherence to community lawyering principles;
Strong leadership skills;
Excellent writing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills;
Demonstrated commitment to tenants' rights and public interest law;
Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members, and diverse community organizations;
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;
Commitment to understanding, or understanding of, how intersectionality plays a role in client and staff experiences; and
Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively on projects with lawyers, other staff members across organization, and diverse community organizations, stakeholders and policymakers.

Compensation

This is an exempt full time position that is competitive and commensurate with experience ranging from $71,321 - $84,731.

Benefits And Perks:
We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include: medical, dental, vision, long-term disability and life insurance.

Medical coverage (Kaiser) will be provided at Centro Legal's expense covering 100%, and 50% for dependents, spouses, and partners. Our alternative health plans with United Health Care at an additional premium cost.
Additional Benefits include: Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, pet insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
PTO: Vacation: 0-1 year 16 days per year, 1-2 year 18 days per year, Over 2 years 23 days per year, (1) paid wellness days per month, 12 sick days per year.
Office Closure: 12 holidays + 8 work days, to include the period from December 24th through January 1st

COVID 19 Policy

Proof of completed Covid-19 vaccination to include both shots of a two-dose vaccination regimen, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine, will be required for all employees (except for reasonable accommodations due to medical and/or religious beliefs). All employees must provide HR with their vaccination QR Code by going to https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/.

Working Conditions:

Hybrid working environment
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Often communicating with people using the phone, email, via video call, or in person.

Schedule:
Four-Day Workweek Pilot: Centro currently operates on a four-day workweek, Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., as part of a pilot program.