Senior Staff Attorney - Litigation

Job Description

Job Description

WE ARE CASA & CASA IN ACTION SYNOPSIS:
We Are CASA’s mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. Rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world. We Are CASA has a sister organization, CASA in Action, a separate, but related, nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Although We Are CASA and CASA in Action share a common goal of supporting immigrants and low-income people in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia, they are separate organizations with their own board of directors. A set of employees at the two organizations, including the person filling this position, shares their time between the two organizations. This has no effect on salary or benefits.

DEPARTMENT SYNOPSIS:
The legal program at We Are CASA operates under the principles of Justice is the goal, law is a means. It is a marathon, not a sprint. We endeavor to find the most creative strategies to combat the abuses and injustices identified by our constituents. We value justice in the largest sense possible, not only one person at a time legal solutions, but broad, transformative solutions created in combination with immigrant leaders, We Are CASA organizers and other staff, other local and national organizations and direct service staff. We value our time and believe that through hard and sustained effort is often required, real rest is also necessary for creativity, stamina and “a life,” however defined.

POSITION SUMMARY:
A We Are CASA senior staff attorney is on the front line in defending, advocating for, and working alongside our members in different spaces. We Are CASA senior staff attorneys work with a dynamic group of paralegals, organizers, advocates, and social service staff in a friendly and fast-paced environment.

This position is eligible to work from We Are CASA's Multicultural Center in Hyattsville MD, We Are CASA's Baltimore Welcome Center in Baltimore, MD, We Are CASA's Rockville Welcome Center in Rockville, MD, or We Are CASA's Woodbridge Welcome Center in Woodbridge, VA.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES :
Direct Legal Work

• Under the supervision of the Supervising Attorney, Managing Attorney, or Legal Director, oversee and provide legal representation to We Are CASA members in civil legal cases.
• Mentor Staff Attorneys, Membership Services Paralegals and other Legal Department staff, volunteers or interns, to assist them in handling complex legal cases or issues.
• Provide brief legal services, including legal orientation, intake, education, counseling, advice and referrals, to We Are CASA members on a variety of legal issues.
• Lead and participate in community workshops and clinics organized by the Legal Department and/or other We Are CASA Departments.

Coalition and Partner Engagement

• Represent We Are CASA in external coalitions and collaborative spaces (including with co-counsel on complex or high-profile cases), updating partners on We Are CASA’s work and coordinating efforts to achieve mission-oriented goals.
• Manage and develop relationships with external partners to achieve Departmental and organizational objectives, including both campaign and service delivery.
• Improve and grow relationships with volunteers and other key partners to support We Are CASA’s legal work, including pro bono attorneys, law students, and other relevant professionals.
• Coordinate among various We Are CASA Departments to align work to achieve campaign objectives and ensure high-quality service delivery.

Strategic Work with Organizers

• Support legal needs of the Organizing department, including by: providing legal consultations and direct representation to members of We Are CASA organizing committees; responding to urgent situations such as impending evictions of We Are CASA members or immigration raids; collaborating on achieving campaign objectives; and other support as needed.
• Co-counsel with other legal services providers or pro-bono counsel to pursue impact litigation.
• Engage in advocacy and community organizing efforts and campaigns for improved laws or policies affecting We Are CASA members at the local, state and federal level by drafting and/or reviewing legislation, presenting testimony, organizing hearings, and lobbying.

Outreach/Popular Education 

• Engage in education and outreach through “know your rights” presentations on legal issues faced by We Are CASA members and the general community.
• Design, edit, and disseminate legal education materials and facilitate “Train the Trainer” workshops in which organizers and We Are CASA members are trained to reach out to others to inform them of their rights.
• Identify clients to participate in public, organized campaigns and to speak with media.

Administrative Work

• Complete on-going data entry and data verification in a timely manner.
• Complete reports related to We Are CASA Legal Department work for funders or as required for internal evaluation.
• Engage in an annual planning process, developing and executing individual work plans, evaluating and providing feedback on plans as the year progresses.
• Provide detailed information regarding work including case examples, case profiles, and statistics for regular reporting deadlines.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE:

• Admitted to practice law in the jurisdiction where this position is based or ability to be admitted immediately
• Valid US Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Bilingual English/Spanish, strongly preferred. French is a plus .
• 3+ years of experience delivering civil legal services and/or working on litigation or policy advocacy directly relevant to working class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities.
• Strong professional client management skills.
• Strong communication skills
• Strong commitment to We Are CASA’s mission.
• Strong commitment to the principles of zealous advocacy.
• Strong time management skills.
• Ability to work well individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to travel regularly between different We Are CASA locations.

COMPENSATION:
$75,000 - $79,280 if working from Hyattsville.
$75,000 - $79,280 if working from Baltimore.
$75,000 - $79,280 if working from Rockville.
$75,000 - $79,280 if working from Woodbridge.

BENEFITS DESCRIPTION:
Who is eligible?

• All full time and part time permanent positions working 20 hours or more per week.

What We Offer:

• Generous paid time off , including: annual leave starting at three weeks per year (proportional accrual per pay period), two weeks of sick leave, three days of personal leave, and additional compensatory leave for exempt employees.
• Sixteen (16) paid holidays per calendar year.
• Excellent Benefits Package including employer paid benefits as follows:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance (We Are CASA pays 100% of the premium costs for the employee up to our HMO plan, 55% for couples, 65% for children and 60% for family)
  • Basic life and AD&D
  • Long and Short Term Disability insurance 
  • Professional Development: Those pursuing a course of study related to work performed at We Are CASA may be eligible for a reimbursement up to $3,000.
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Additional voluntary benefits:
  • FSA Account including Dependent Care.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 2% employer discretionary match.
  • Supplemental Health.
• Allowances:
  • Mileage reimbursements for those positions that are required to drive on We Are CASA business.
  • Cell Phone stipend for those positions that are required to use their cellphone for We Are CASA business.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; lift, carry, reach push or pull objects; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl; handling, feeling or grasping.

The employee is occasionally required to stand or walk. The employee must rarely lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. When it comes to physical strength the employee will rarely perform heavy or medium work.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is rarely exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADA: We Are CASA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

OSHA: A Senior Staff Attorney is not to handle any human body fluids, biological agents, laboratory chemicals, or be exposed to hazardous materials such as noise, asbestos, or carcinogens.

This is a union position, represented in collective bargaining by a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Communication Workers of America, Local WBNG 32035 - Communication Workers of America (CWA). If you are offered and accept this position, you will be invited to become a member of the union. All bargaining unit positions require membership or agency fee payer status.

We Are CASA Inc. and CASA in Action do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, marital status or national origin.

This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

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