Description:

Job Summary:
The Staff Attorney must be passionate about achieving justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income communities and communities of color, a creative and zealous lawyer and a team-player, and committed to achieving lasting results through a movement lawyering model. The Staff Attorney will be responsible for providing legal assistance to low-income street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs, advancing and supporting inclusive vending and small business policies, and participating in state and local coalitions. The Staff Attorney will also support our housing justice work through participation in policy advocacy and impact litigation.

Specifically, the Staff Attorney will:

Provide legal assistance to street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs in a variety of areas, including choice of entity, incorporation and corporate compliance, permitting and licensing requirements, lease negotiation, and contract drafting and
The Staff Attorney will provide these services directly and in partnership with pro bono attorneys;
Provide legal assistance to community-based organizations and coalitions of community-based organizations on campaigns to advance inclusive economic and housing justice policies; partnering with community organizers and community-based organizations to create popular education curriculum to demystify complex laws and policies; drafting advocacy materials, legal memos, and model legislation; representing community groups in meetings with state and local officials; and engaging in impact litigation;
Coordinate legal clinics for street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs, including outreach and recruiting volunteer attorneys;
Create and deliver educational programming and substantive legal trainings to clients, community-based organizations, and pro bono attorneys;
Identify systemic barriers to economic and housing justice and inequities that impact low income communities and communities of color, and work within coalitions to develop strategies to remove such barriers and inequities;
Conduct outreach and client intakes, and act as a spokesperson on significant community development issues affecting street vendors, including with the media;
Identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration and coalition-building in furtherance of CDP's mission;
Represent CDP on panels and engage in other public facing dialogue to elevate client priorities and campaigns;
Contribute to the team and organization as a whole by taking part in organization-wide activities, including integrating diversity, equity and inclusion policies into our work and workplace; and
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
Essential Job Skills and Abilities

At least 1 year of legal experience relevant to low-income entrepreneurship, legislative advocacy, and/or housing policy—for example, supporting street vendors, micro-entrepreneurs, and small businesses in areas such as municipal law, corporate law, commercial leasing and real estate, contracts, and general counsel legal needs; legal experience in areas such as land use, affordable housing production, rent control and tenant protections, and/or real estate transactions.
We will also consider candidates who are awaiting results from the February 2024 California Bar Exam, or registered for the July 2024 California Bar Exam;
Must be a member in good standing of the State Bar of California;
Experience working with low-income, diverse ethnic groups, and non-English speaking clients, including undocumented communities and/or street vendors;
Experience working with coalitions of community-based organizations preferred;
Policy advocacy experience preferred;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well as part of a team;
Strong commitment to trauma-informed advocacy, economic, racial, and social justice and community lawyering;
Ability to quickly and efficiently assess matters, provide competent advice, and assist clients with their urgent legal needs;
Demonstrated experience as a self-starter, with a history of independently managing multiple projects preferred;
Data and policy analysis skills a plus.