Reentry Attorney (Fresno)

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Job location
TBD
Fresno, CA 93724
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Root & Rebound
Street address: 
1730 Franklin St., Suite 300
City: 
Oakland
State: 
California
ZIP: 
94612
Job type: 
Other
Position Description: 

Reentry Attorney, Fresno Reentry Women & Employment Initiative (FRWEI):
The Reentry Attorney will play an integral role in launching and anchoring this brand new Fresno initiative to serve women of color in Fresno County who have been involved in the justice system and/or are formerly incarcerated. The ideal candidate will be passionate about breaking down barriers to opportunity for women in reentry, and creating pathways through legal practice to employment and financial stability.

The ideal candidate is a natural leader who is warm, personable, and team-oriented, excited about launching a new initiative, and expanding R&R’s services, partnerships, work, and impact across Fresno County and the Central Valley. The ideal candidate is a creative problem solver who faces challenges head-on and is comfortable iterating and changing course when a better approach needs to be taken with program design. The attorney will be working under the supervision of Root & Rebound’s Executive Director and Deputy Director of Programs, and in collaboration with its staff attorneys throughout the state. On site, the attorney will work closely with the other members of the Fresno team: a Social Worker/Case Manager and a part-time Employment & Economic Security Coach. The attorney must be highly communicative and responsive, and open to regular check ins via Skype, email, text, etc., as well as training and orientation periods in R&R’s Oakland HQ office.

Responsibilities & Duties:
The Reentry Attorney will support FRWEI by:
- Working on-site as reentry barrier removal and legal navigation specialist: conducting holistic reentry intakes (covering all reentry barriers, including family reunification questions, employment barriers, and discrimination), providing legal advice and reentry-related support, and where needed/appropriate, providing direct representation to women on reentry-related issues (driver’s license reinstatements, family law issues, etc.); and
- Coordinating on-site Know Your Rights trainings and in-depth clinics on key reentry topics.

The Reentry Attorney will support the larger reentry infrastructure across Fresno by:
- Three times per year, hosting reentry legal clinics in coordination with the larger R&R team, for the broader Fresno community in collaboration with R&R’s local partners;
- Based off R&R’s Oakland and LA work, creating and convening a Fresno Blue Ribbon Commission (quarterly) to educate local employers and encourage Fair Chance Hiring and build the pipeline to stable employment;
- Hosting quarterly reentry trainings and workshops for the wider network of Fresno community-based organizations, parole and probation departments, and higher education institutions;
- Elevating the issues women with records in Fresno face to create structural and policy change that advance second chance opportunities and social justice;
- Building partnerships and relationships with social service, legal services, and government organizations as well as foundations and supportive stakeholders in the community; and
- Recruiting and creating a panel of pro bono attorneys to assist with legal clinics and take on direct representation.

The Reentry Attorney will support FRWEI by managing administrative activities including:
- Representing R&R at community events and public forums, and serve as an ambassador for reentry advocacy issues more broadly;
- Recruiting law clerks, interns, and volunteers to support the legal program;
- Supporting PR, Development, Communications, and Storytelling projects as needed;
- Tracking data and program outcomes. Supporting R&R in grant writing and grant reporting;
- Maintaining organized files, systems, and databases for all of Root & Rebound’s legal programs;
- Responding professionally and promptly to dynamic and ever-shifting programmatic demands in a startup environment, working collaboratively with our small but mighty team of reentry attorneys; and
- Conducting administrative tasks as needed.

Compensation & Benefits:
This position will begin as a full-time position with a competitive salary commensurate with experience and employment benefits that include medical, vision, and dental care.

Requirements: 

Qualifications:
Licensed to practice law in the state of CA, in good standing;
2 or more years working directly with clients in a legal clinic setting, preferably with direct experience working with reentry population;
Knowledge of criminal justice system and collateral consequences of a criminal record;
Demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice, equity, and gender-responsive programming;
Demonstrated interest in improving the lives of disenfranchised people and communities;
Eagerness to take initiative, solve intricate problems, work on multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize and organize in a deadline-driven environment;
Proficiency in Spanish;
Positive, professional, and humble attitude;
Strong work ethic, resilience, and determination;
Proactive communicator and team builder;
Flexible and able to prioritize work effectively. Excellent time-management;
Creative, enthusiastic, and willing to learn and try new things;
Individuals with lived experience and with deep connection to Fresno County strongly encouraged to apply;
Willingness to travel to/spend time at R&R’s HQ office in Oakland for training/orientation, spending time as needed with HQ team. Willingness to travel outside of Fresno County as needed; and
Driver’s license required.

To apply: 

To apply for this position, please send a resume, cover letter, two short writing samples, and at least three references with contact information in an email with “Fresno - Reentry Attorney” in the email subject line to Katherine Katcher (Executive Director) at [email protected]. Resumes without a cover letter, writing samples, and references will not be reviewed. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.

Notes: 
Root & Rebound is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals including formerly incarcerated and/or system-involved individuals, people of color, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender variant individuals. Individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and with deep connection to Fresno County strongly encouraged to apply.
Submission deadline: 
Friday, April 27, 2018