PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

For over 50 years, CCLS has been representing and advocating for low-income individuals in Merced, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties. With more than 90 employees, CCLS works to provide high quality, no-cost civil legal services to low-income individuals, families, and communities—improving the wellbeing of our Valley through systems-changing advocacy, client education, and legal work that meets individual clients’ immediate needs. We also work closely with agencies and community organizations that share our commitment to support our clients in being their own agents of change.

JOB DESCRIPTION

CCLS seeks a dynamic attorney to join its Pro Bono Program (“PBP”) as leader of an expanding Domestic Violence Restraining Order Pro Bono Project. Through the PBP, CCLS provides legal services to low-income community members using skilled volunteer attorneys and other legal service providers.

Working under the supervision of the Director of Pro Bono & Strategic Partnerships, and in collaboration with the PBP team, the Attorney & Project Leader will take the lead in replicating CCLS’s Fresno County DVRO Project, known as “Project First Step,” through the other counties of CCLS’s service area. Through this project, domestic violence crisis agencies refer clients in need of legal representation to obtain restraining orders to CCLS. CCLS places clients with pro bono attorneys to provide in-court representation. The Attorney & Project Leader will work collaboratively with the PBP team, CCLS advocates, and community partners to develop local partnerships among domestic violence agencies, CCLS, and local bar associations to establish and develop the project in each area. The Attorney & Project Leader may choose to be based in CCLS’ Fresno, Merced, or Visalia offices.

The Attorney & Project Leader will assist with other PBP programming as needed.

DUTIES

• With supervision, take the lead in replicating and operating a Domestic Violence Restraining Order project throughout CCSL’s service area;
• Assist the Director with volunteer recruitment, management, placement, support, and recognition;
• In collaboration with CCLS advocates and community partners, create and maintain volunteer training materials for the project;
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners and work with them to create opportunities for CCLS to meet the legal needs of the communities they serve;
• Develop and maintain relationships with the local bar associations and legal communities in the CCLS service areas to recruit and maintain volunteers;
• Participate in regular CCLS program team meetings to stay abreast of client and program needs for volunteer legal services;
• Collaborate with other legal services organizations for development of pro bono initiatives;
• Assist the Director with development and documentation of PBP policies and evaluation metrics;
• Assist in development and production of MCLE training programs for volunteer recruitment and for staff training;
• Travel to meetings and events in counties served by CCLS as needed; and
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Member in good standing of the State Bar of California;
• At least three years of experience practicing law, with litigation or family law experience preferred;
• Entrepreneurial spirit, goal-oriented, and organized;
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, public speaking, and interpersonal;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines concurrently; 
• Experience recruiting, engaging, managing, and inspiring volunteers strongly preferred;
• Able to work with clients who are under multiple stressors; to respond to them with empathy and understanding; and to advocate for them;
• Experience with and enjoyment of working with people from a wide range of economic spheres, cultures, languages, abilities, and geographic areas;
• Confident in representing CCLS on relevant committees, task forces, and working groups in the legal community;
• Committed to the organizational initiatives involving diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; 
• Ability to travel, as needed;
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners; and
• Bilingual ability is a plus (English/Spanish or English/Hmong).

CCLS is an equal opportunity employer: we value equity, inclusion, and diversity, across all races, cultures, classes, ages, religions, gender identities and presentations, sexual orientations, body sizes, family structures, abilities, and all categories protected by law. We encourage all interested individuals to apply. CCLS is subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.