Director Leadership Social Justice Program Jobs

WHO WE ARE: California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty law firm that dismantles unjust systems through community lawyering in California’s historically rural areas. We work with people priced out of private legal representation so they can uphold civil rights in housing, employment, health, and public education. Through our 17 Rural Justice Centers, communities can access a broad range of legal tools, including direct legal services, place-based advocacy to expand equity in civic institutions, and specialized litigation to advance civil rights.

Position: Justice Center Director
Reports to: Associate Director – Rural Justice Program
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Location: Modesto, CA
Term of Employment: Regular, Full-Time
Other: FLSA Exempt, Non-Union-Eligible Position

Position Overview:

The Justice Center Director leads the operations and advocacy efforts of a CRLA Justice Center. CRLA’s Rural Justice Program provides direct legal services, place-based advocacy to expand equity in civic institutions, and specialized litigation to advance civil rights via a network of 17 Rural Justice Centers.  The Justice Center Director is a critical leadership role, ensuring alignment with CRLA’s community lawyering principles and systemic advocacy goals. This role involves supervising a multidisciplinary team, managing a personal caseload, and fostering local partnerships to address systemic inequities and empower communities. In addition to their direct reports, the Director ensures the Justice Center is an equity-focused space where clients and community members can access the full range of CRLA services and resources.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Supervise attorneys, community workers, and support staff to deliver impactful advocacy. Lead team meetings, case reviews, and strategy discussions. Develop office workplans and other tools to guide and align staff efforts.

• Community Engagement: Build trust and partnerships with local organizations and community leaders to inform advocacy efforts and expand CRLA’s reach. Serve as a community leader and trusted partner in external community spaces. Represent CRLA in public forums, policy discussions, and community events.

• Direct Advocacy: Design and oversee initiatives that empower community members to participate in identifying systemic issues and crafting solutions, including facilitating and supporting a local advisory committee (Comité). Maintain an active caseload, contributing to both affirmative litigation, policy advocacy, and other systemic advocacy efforts.
• Justice Center Operations: Oversee the implementation of annual work plans, ensuring compliance with CRLA policies, LSC regulations, and ethical standards. Oversee building management, ensuring facilities requests are addressed. Ensure collaboration across CRLA staff co-located at the Justice Center.
• Collaboration: Facilitate resource sharing and collaboration with other Justice Centers and CRLA programs.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 4 years of experience working with historically marginalized populations.

• At least 3 years in advocacy roles, the majority of which should be experience as an attorney, with leadership or supervisory experience preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse community groups.
• Admitted to the California Bar or another State Bar with willingness to take the next California Bar Exam.

Highly Preferred Qualifications:

• 2 or more years of program management, supervisory, or leadership experience.
• Proven commitment to social justice and equity.
• Familiarity with systemic advocacy and legal issues impacting rural, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and low-income communities.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language relevant to CRLA’s clients.

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

We offer a diverse, family-friendly environment and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries; generous benefits package which includes 100% employer-covered medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance for employees and up to 50% for dependents coverage; and 401K retirement plan with CRLA contribution effective immediately. Some professional dues are paid by CRLA (Bar Fees) and, if qualified, up to $8,000 law school Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP). Generous paid leave policy which includes; 15 days of sick leave, 15 holidays each year, and vacation (accrue 15 days for the first year of service and 20 days after one year of service at CRLA). This is a non-union position, and the salary ranges from (Supervising Attorney: $100,000-$130,000) depending on each year of admission to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction and any relevant law-related work experience prior to being admitted to practice law.

CRLA requires that all employees are Fully Vaccinated, defined as a CDC-approved COVID vaccination and one booster shot. This offer is contingent on meeting this requirement. The complete vaccination policy, including the process for reasonable allowable accommodations, is available for your review upon request.

California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. thrives on our diversity, and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply.