Staff Attorney
Description
POSITION: Staff Attorney
LOCATION: Ventura, California, (hybrid)
HOURS: full-time, 40 hours/week, (exempt)
ANNUAL SALARY: $110,000 – 120,000
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Staff Attorney will assist clients with a broad variety of legal issues. The attorney will review, assess and respond to client inquiries received via referral, in person at our walk-in clinic, or via email. The attorney may provide information, legal advice, or representation. The attorney may also refer the inquirer to our walk-in clinic, other legal or community resources, or just lend a sympathetic ear. The attorney will assist clients at our walk-in clinic and may sometimes oversee individual clinic sessions (e.g. open & close the facility, supervise volunteers, ensure that records are completed). The attorney may also interview and provide legal services for clients referred from the Ventura Family Justice Center (FJC) on a part-time basis.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
Compensation is $110,000 – 120,000, depending upon experience. The position is exempt. Other benefits include all court holidays, health insurance contribution, 80 hours vacation per year, 40 hours sick leave per year, and an IRA plan with employer match.
ABOUT VENTURA COUNTY LEGAL AID (VCLA):
VCLA is a nonprofit community-based organization that provides free legal assistance to Ventura County residents. VCLA is dedicated to offering top-tier civil legal services to low-income and vulnerable residents, with the goal of promoting equal access to justice. We achieve this through direct representation, legal advice, information, and educational outreach at the Family Justice Center. VCLA is small and working hard to expand our presence in the community.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- licensed to practice law in the State of California and in good standing
- Spanish fluency
- commitment to public interest law and a desire to work with underrepresented, low income, and victimized individuals
- excellent oral and written communication skills
- excellent time management skills and ability to work independently
- willing to work on a broad variety of civil cases and issues
- ability to perform excellent and thorough legal research
- excellent interpersonal skills
- flexible; willing to learn and try new things; willing to backup other VCLA staff (cross-functional task sharing)
- ability to perform all essential functions (listed below)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- conduct client interviews effectively and compassionately
- obtain factual information from clients
- communicate clearly and appropriately with clients regarding the status and facts of their case
- provide legal information, advice, and representation
- represent VCLA clients in court and at administrative hearings
- support clients in pursuing claims in Small Claims Court
- keep records as needed to measure outcomes, provide accurate data to fundraisers, and support organizational development and fundraising
- provide legal education in the community and staff off-site outreach events
- document business processes and operations and make recommendations to increase operational efficiency (as needed)
TO APPLY:
please email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and a list of three professional references to paulbujold@vclegalaid.org . No other type of contact, please. We will review applications immediately and continue until the position is filled. We will contact candidates moving forward to the interview process.
VCLA is committed to promoting a diverse workplace and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply. VCLA is an equal opportunity employer and refrains from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.