Staff Attorney

The Staff Attorney position requires a California bar license to practice law. It is an exempt, professional position performing work that is predominately intellectual and varied in character related to high-level policy work in furtherance of the organization’s mission and goals. The position regularly requires the use of professional, independent judgment to exercise discretion in matters related to the duties set forth below. The Staff Attorney will primarily be responsible for providing legal representation to clients from disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin and Coachella Valleys. In collaboration with LCJA Co-Directors and supervising attorneys, the Staff Attorney will identify, develop, and implement legal strategies related to land use, water, housing, air quality, energy, transportation, and climate. This position will also support policy advocacy, community engagement, and organizing campaigns.

Duties & Responsibilities

The essential functions of this position include the following:

1. Act as primary legal representative to clients, including:
   1. Develop and enter into legal service agreements with clients with the approval of the supervisor.
   2. Represent clients in various matters including but not limited to negotiation, pre-litigation administrative exhaustion, and litigation.
   3. Support the development of client groups through the development of bylaws and decision-making structures.
   4. Ensure clients maintain a full understanding of substantive and procedural issues involved in representation.
   5. Communicate with clients as often as reasonably necessary to ensure clients are consulted and reasonably informed.
   6. Collaborate with Community Advocacy Manager(s) to support effective coordination and collaboration with clients/client groups.
2. Engage in legal advocacy, including:
   1. Work with the legal secretary to maintain a file on legal matters.
   2. Identify and develop novel legal strategies and theories.
   3. Engage in contract negotiations.
   4. Draft contracts, including but not limited to community benefits agreements, consolidation agreements, and extraterritorial service agreements.
   5. Engage in administrative advocacy at the local, regional, and state level including advocacy necessary to exhaust administrative remedies.
   6. Participate in litigation through activities that include but are not limited to developing a litigation plan; drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; drafting and responding to discovery; developing evidence; engaging in settlement negotiations; and ensuring satisfaction of settlement terms.
   7. Participate in pre-litigation negotiations.
   8. Collaborate and coordinate with co-counsel or other attorneys as appropriate.
   9. Work in partnership with the Communications Director and Specialists to develop a communications strategy that supports the relevant advocacy goals.
   10. Work in partnership with Community Advocacy Managers to ensure effective community engagement in legal advocacy efforts (under engage in legal advocacy).
3. Support local, regional, and state-level policy advocacy beyond tasks outlined under “engage in legal advocacy,” including:
   1. Engage in policy analysis relevant to state, regional, and local advocacy.
   2. Review documents including but not limited to fact sheets, comment letters, and media tools.
   3. Provide written or oral testimony in local, regional, and state administrative or legislative hearings or workshops.
   4. Draft written comments to support policy advocacy.
   5. Identify issues in need of policy reform.
   6. Provide technical support as necessary to Policy Managers and Policy Advocates on issues related to pending or anticipated legislative measures or regulatory processes.
4. Support and participate in community engagement, outreach, and organizing as necessary, including:
   1. Review community engagement, outreach, and organizing material.
   2. Participate in outreach and engagement activities.
   3. Participate in community meetings and other community events.
5. Develop and maintain issue area expertise as determined by a supervising attorney. Substantive and procedural issues, including:
   1. State and Federal Civil Procedure.
   2. Procedural requirements specific to relevant administrative bodies including but not limited state agencies, local land use agencies, regional bodies, and federal agencies.
   3. Substantive areas of law including: land use, housing, civil rights, water, transportation, air quality, climate, and other areas of environmental law.
6. Develop relationships as necessary to advance advocacy goals of the organization and the efficacy of the organization’s legal advocacy, including:
   1. Develop and maintain relationships with relevant decision-makers including agency staff.
   2. Develop and maintain with law firms, law schools and other potential legal resources.
7. Represent LCJA in local, state, and national level conferences to further organizational mission and goals.
8. Administrative duties, including:
   1. Maintain time records of all activities in accordance with office policies and as directed by Co-Executive Directors and Chief Operating Officer
   2. Maintain files, notes, and records in accordance with office policies

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will also perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by the supervising manager, chief operating officer, or co-executive directors (or designee).

Skills & Qualifications

1. Licensure: Must be licensed to practice law in the State of California and in good standing with the California State Bar.
2. Education: JD or commensurate work experience.
3. Must be insurable under the Organization’s professional malpractice insurance policies, as such policies and criteria may change from time to time.
4. Certifications/Technical Skills/Proficiencies:
   1. Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and Google Office Suite.
   2. Excellent verbal and writing skills
   3. Excellent project management skills
5. Other Traits, Capacities, and Requirements:
   1. Ability to regularly work long hours, evenings, and weekends
   2. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
   3. Ability to travel within the State of California including throughout California and 1-2 times out of state per year.
   4. Drivers’ License and access to personal vehicle and insurance coverage.
   5. Reliable access to a personal cell phone.
   6. Reliable access to the internet.
   7. Comfortable with working with residents and organizations from diverse backgrounds.

Bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish is preferred but not required.