CALA uses its model, "community activism lawyering," to unite lawyers and activists to collaboratively help underserved communities access justice and pursue social change. Through these partnerships, CALA creates “community activism-law programs” within and co-operated by communities. CALA accomplishes its two principal objectives at once: provide cost-effective legal services to underserved individual clients and help our activist partners achieve broader social change. Through our work, CALA seeks to change not only how the legal aid system operates but also how lawyers and activists work together.
CALA is looking for 2 staff attorneys with genuine interest in community lawyering, connecting the law with grassroots activism, and being part of a new legal services model. The attorney will have three primary responsibilities: 1) staff one of CALA’s community law offices once a week, 2) handle family or housing cases across CALA’s various programs, and 3) practice one additional area of law for which CALA offers services.
The starting salary range is $47,500-$60,000 and will be commensurate with experience, qualifications and salary history—and is negotiable, with an anticipated salary increase in July 2018. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, travel reimbursement, generous paid time off, coverage of professional fees. 403(b) plan-matching and bonuses are also available, contingent upon annual fundraising.
Candidates should have at minimum 2 years of experience in housing or family. Candidates must be willing to adapt to CALA’s community-located, community-operated, and community-directed model and be comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment. They must also be prepared to work some non-traditional hours—evenings and the occasional weekend day—and in non-traditional, multiple locations; in exchange, they are afforded great flexibility in work schedule. Preference may be given to applicants who are fluent in Spanish or Arabic.
To apply, send a cover letter, resume, references, recent writing sample for an immigration case, and salary history to [email protected]. We will accept applications until the position is filled.