Position: Bilingual Domestic Violence Outreach Staff Attorney
Reports to: Domestic Violence Team Supervising Attorney
Status: 1.00 FTE Exempt
Salary Range: $73,000 - $100,000 annually, depending on years of active Bar experience, plus a generous benefits package.
Legal Aid of Sonoma County (LASC) is a non-profit organization that provides low-income clients assistance with protective orders, eviction defense, guardianships, elder law, immigration, and related legal remedies. LASC seeks a Bilingual Domestic Violence (DV) Outreach Attorney to provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault (SA), child abuse, human trafficking, and stalking who reside outside of the metropolitan Santa Rosa corridor and/or have Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
The DV Outreach Attorney will be based on-site at the LASC office, but will require travel throughout Sonoma County to assist survivors in rural and unincorporated areas. Many of these clients lack transportation, have LEP, and are otherwise unable to access legal services and resources.
Legal Aid’s DV team helps people with Domestic Violence and Civil Harassment Restraining Orders, and related legal remedies. Services include assistance with pleadings, legal advice and information, and in-court representation. Legal Aid carries an extensive caseload, and the environment is very fast paced.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Community Outreach and Education:
• Respond to requests from the public with culturally and linguistically accessible educational materials about DV program services and provide appropriate referral to affiliate agencies and resources.
• Collaborate with our network of community partners to conduct workshops and community education presentations, and to facilitate mobile and remote appointments and services for survivors, at locations throughout the County.
Legal Support for Clients:
• Provide high quality legal services to survivors of DV, including legal intake and case assessment, drafting restraining order applications (including custody applications if applicable); and representing clients in court.
• Collaborate on behalf of clients with the LASC DV team, as well as law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and other community agencies.
• Establish a collaboration with the DA's Victim Services Division (VSD) to facilitate rural and LEP survivors’ access to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.
• Follow legal case protocol and maintain organized case files.
• Provide legal supervision to LASC’s Bilingual DV Outreach Caseworker, and to any LASC volunteers/interns assigned to the DV Outreach unit.
General:
• Attend regularly scheduled DV team and staff meetings at the LASC offices.
• Maintain up-to-date case notes and client demographic data in both the Legal Aid online client database (Legal Server) and on Excel.
• Conduct various service evaluation activities including follow-up interviews and case management for litigants who received assistance within this program.
• Collect and maintain statistical records on services provided, as required by funders.
• This position is not remote. Applicants must be within commuting distance of Santa Rosa, CA. Services are provided on site or at partner agencies and in person during normal business hours, five days a week.
• Other tasks as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Juris Doctorate and active member of or pending admission to the CA Bar.
• Demonstrated ability to work with all persons regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, economic background, immigration status, gender identification, or sexual orientation, with an understanding of the special needs of domestic violence and assault survivors.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a diverse team.
• Must be flexible, work well under pressure, prioritize tasks, and manage time effectively.
• A firm commitment to accurate and timely data collection and time reporting (on bi-weekly time sheets and in the client database) is required.
• Working knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Office, legal forms software programs, and database programs.
• Position requires driving, a Valid CA Driver’s License and proof of current automobile insurance are required.
• All applicants must abide by LASC’s current COVID related and security protocols.
• Must pass a background check.
Skills/Experience Desired:
• Previous experience working with survivors of domestic violence.
• Prior public interest experience and/or experience representing low-income or under-served communities.
• At least two years of prior legal experience.
BENEFITS: Legal Aid of Sonoma County provides a dynamic and supportive work environment, and an excellent benefit package after the completion of an initial 90-day introductory period. Benefits include eligibility for company paid health insurance for the employee or cash-in-lieu, company paid dental insurance, eligibility for 401K participation after one year of continuous employment, and very generous paid vacation/sick/holiday leave policies. Note the benefits package is for the employee only, LASC does not provide health or dental coverage for spouses or dependents.
Note that all employment at LASC is “at will” and the completion of an introductory period does not create an employment contract.
TO APPLY: Please submit a Cover Letter and Resume by email. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Note the posted salary range is firm and DOE.
Legal Aid of Sonoma County is an equal opportunity employer.
