Description:

Summary of Position:
Cast's legal department provides comprehensive legal services to U.S citizen and noncitizen survivors of sex and labor trafficking, including assisting clients seeking criminal, civil and immigration relief. Cast's legal department also provides emergency response to breaking cases and assesses all potential victims.

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for assisting clients with short-term and long-term legal needs. Short-term legal needs include, but are not limited to, assisting survivors of human trafficking with urgent legal needs such as representing clients in protective order proceedings, providing criminal defense advocacy, representing noncitizen clients in immigration bond hearings, victim rights advocacy, assisting survivors in applying for California Victim Compensation Board benefits, and assisting survivors in applying for credit repair under the Debt Bondage Repair Act. Long-term legal needs include, but are not limited to, immigration relief, post-conviction relief, victim-witness representation, and civil litigation.

In addition to each attorney's expected caseload, Cast's legal team plays a vital role in the organization's emergency response (ER) program, which operates a 24-hour hotline for survivors of human trafficking seeking services. Our legal staff support the hotline staff and ER social services staff by conducting phone-based factual intakes. These intakes help determine whether a caller's experience meets the legal definition of human trafficking, and as appropriate, advise them of their legal rights and the services available. As a part of a rotating schedule to support Cast's ER program, the hotline staff, and ER social services staff, the Staff Attorney will be "on-call" for daytime shifts to conduct phone-based factual intakes. The Staff Attorney will be on Day ER duty one to two weeks per month, conducting phone-based factual intakes via their work cell phone, from 9 am to 5 pm.

This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of a human rights, strengths-based approach in serving clients, and the ability to employ key trauma-informed legal advocacy, including client empowerment, professional boundaries, and self-care. This position also requires client management expertise, independent decision-making ability, and excellent interpersonal and teambuilding skills. This is a full-time, exempt position, and as with all positions at Cast, work-life balance is prioritized. The Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Attorney of the Direct Legal Services Program.

Essential Responsibilities:

In coordination with Cast's social services team, respond to calls to the Cast 24-hour hotline during required shifts by conducting factual intakes by phone of potential victims. The Staff Attorney will be on Day ER duty from 9 am to 5 pm one to two weeks per month.
Perform factual intake in accordance with the law and provide and manage initial legal screening for new clients, including assessing short-term and long-term legal needs.
Provide legal assistance to clients with urgent, short-term legal needs, including, but not limited to, representing clients in protective order proceedings, providing criminal defense advocacy, representing noncitizen clients in immigration bond hearings, victim rights advocacy, assisting survivors in applying for California Victim Compensation Board benefits, and assisting survivors in applying for credit repair under the Debt Bondage Repair Act.
Provide legal representation to clients in need of long-term legal services including, but not limited to, immigration relief, post-conviction relief, victim-witness representation, and civil litigation.
Work collaboratively with social services and shelter staff.
Support advocacy work for policy reform that emphasizes the human rights of trafficked persons, migrants and low-wage workers.
Provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to legal aid organizations, law firms, and law enforcement to assist trafficked clients.

Requirements:

Active membership in the California State Bar required.
Commitment to serving the needs of trafficked persons, migrants and low-wage workers.
Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with trafficked persons, legal organizations, community-based organizations, volunteer lawyers, and government agencies.
Ability to develop and implement effective systems for managing caseload.
Ability to respond to emergency and breaking cases and be on call by phone from 9 am to 5 pm one to two weeks per month.
Excellent interpersonal skills and honest communications.

Desirable Qualifications:

Knowledge of trafficking and the issues affecting trafficked persons.
Experience working with victims of trauma or abuse.
Substantive experience with immigration, criminal law, family law, and/or victims' rights advocacy.
Bilingual preferred.