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JOB DESCRIPTION – SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY 

Job Title:                               Senior Staff Attorney 

Reports to:                         Directing Attorney 

Classification:                Full-Time, Exempt 

Salary Range:                  $87,000 – $115,000 

Location:                              Possible locations for this position include: Fresno, Coachella, Bakersfield, Merced

 

Position Summary 

 

The Senior 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 Senior 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 Senior 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 and community engagement and organizing campaigns.

 

The Senior Staff Attorney position may supervise interns. The Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for following human resources best practices and other policies and procedures for management and accountability of staff they supervise.

 

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 services agreements with clients with approval of supervisor. 
    2. Represent clients in 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 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, consistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
    6. Collaborate with Community Advocacy Manager(s) to support effective coordination and collaboration with clients / client groups. 

 

  1. Engage in legal advocacy which demonstrates strong command of relevant substantive and procedural issues, including:
    1. Work with legal secretary to maintain a file on the legal matter.
    2. Identify and develop novel legal strategies and theories.
    3. Lead contract negotiations.
    4. Draft contracts including, but not limited to, community benefits agreements, consolidation agreements, and extraterritorial service agreements.
    5. Lead administrative advocacy at the local, regional, and state level.
    6. Lead litigation and/or components of 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. Lead pre-litigation negotiations.
    8. Collaborate and coordinate with co-counsel or other attorneys as appropriate.
    9. Work in partnership with 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).

 

  1. Support local, regional, and state level policy advocacy beyond tasks outlined under “engage in legal advocacy,” including:
    1. Conduct research on existing or pending laws or regulations.
    2. Review documents including but not limited to fact sheets, comment letters, and media tools.
    3. Provide written or oral testimony administrative or legislative hearings 
    4. Identify issues in need of policy reform.
    5. Provide technical support as necessary to Policy Managers and Policy Advocates on issues related to pending or anticipated legislative measures and regulatory matters. 

 

  1. Support and participate in community engagement, outreach, and organizing, 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.

 

  1. Develop and maintain issue area expertise as determined by a supervising attorney, 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. 
    4. Subject matters related to and necessary for the performance of legal advocacy including relevant matters of data and science. 

 

  1. Develop and maintain positive and productive professional relationships, including:
    1. With other organizations to advance advocacy goals of the organization and the efficacy of the organization’s legal advocacy.
    2. With government officials and elected representatives to further the organization’s mission and policy objectives. 
    3. With law firms, law schools, and other potential legal resources. 

 

  1. Represent LCJA in local, state, and national level conferences to further the Organization’s mission and goals.

 

  1. Author and co-author relevant reports and studies.

 

  1. Supervise interns in assigned  substantive areas  to ensure high quality performance and growth in each aspect of their position, including but not limited to hiring, training, and evaluation performance in the execution of their duties, as set forth in their job descriptions and any additional duties assigned.

 

  1. Fundraising and development, including:
    1. Work with Director of Development, Chief Operating Officer, and Co-Executive Directors to identify funding opportunities, draft grant proposals, and prepare grant reports.
    2. Support other fundraising activities including drafting appeals and cultivating donors.

 

  1. Administrative duties, including:
    1. Maintain and 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 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.

 

  1. Education: JD or commensurate work experience

 

  1. Experience: 3+ years of demonstrated experience in similar role

 

  1. Must be insurable under the Organization’s professional malpractice insurance policies, as such policies and criteria may change from time to time.

 

  1. Certifications/Technical Skills/Proficiencies:
  2. Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and Google Office Suite.
  3. Excellent verbal and writing skills in English.
  4. Excellent project management skills.

 

  1. Other Traits, Capacities, and Requirements:
  2. Ability to regularly work long hours, evenings, and weekends 
  3. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
  4. Ability to travel within the State of California including throughout California and 1-2 times out of state per year.
  5. Drivers’ License and access to personal vehicle and insurance coverage.
  6. Reliable access to a personal cell phone.
  7. Reliable access to the internet.
  8. Comfortable working with residents and organizations from diverse backgrounds.

 

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

 

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

 

The physical demands listed are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the 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 move or remain in a stationary position, to perform clerical duties in the office, and operate computer and related office machinery. The employee must have the ability to conduct meetings. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds of tools or other equipment. Constantly operate a variety of functions on the computer (e.g., including reading and responding to email) along with other office productivity machinery, such as telephone, calculator, print and copy machine, etc. The person in this position is required to frequently and effectively communicate with callers and community members, in person, via email and over the phone. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations, and able to read from a computer screen and paper documents.

 

Ability to drive frequently and for long hours in a day to community meetings, hearings, conferences and other related activities (some of which may be in rural areas), ability to conduct door-to-door outreach and conduct meetings both in-person and remotely, and ability to set up for events/meetings including lifting materials and supplies such as chairs, easels, and tables.

 

Employees share office space with one or more other staff members. This position typically functions indoors, in office environments with light to moderate noise, and in community gathering venues, private homes or government buildings with both small and large groups of people where noise levels may be higher than in a typical office setting. The position requires travel for meetings and events, including various outdoor worksites.

 

This position also functions in an outdoor setting and may include moderate to loud noise associated with outdoor music and crowds. 

 

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accommodations

Leadership Counsel is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The company does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you should contact your supervisor or one or both of the co-executive directors.