Interim Racial Economic Justice Program Director

Summary
Legal Aid at Work (LAAW) partners with people to help them understand and assert their workplace rights, and advocates for employment laws and systems that empower low-paid workers and marginalized communities.

LAAW has seven core program areas: (1) Community Legal Services; (2) Disability Rights; (3) Gender Equity & LGBTQ Rights; (4) National Origin and Immigrants’ Rights; (5) Racial Economic Justice; (6) Wage Protection; and (7) Work & Family. Through these programs, LAAW:

Provides free, individualized legal advice and counsel throughout California to thousands of low-income workers;
Pursues targeted enforcement and impact litigation to strengthen and clarify the law;
Conducts community outreach and education for workers, their advocates, their families, and their health and social service providers; and
Advocates for laws, regulations, and policies at the local, state, and national levels to strengthen civil and workplace rights.
As a social justice organization, Legal Aid at Work’s mission is rooted in the firm belief that all people deserve respect, dignity, and self-determination at work, at school, and in their communities. Structural and systemic racism—with the oppression of Black and Indigenous people at its core—and other forms of injustice shape the society and the civic, political, and legal systems in which we work and live. Legal Aid at Work is committed to developing and nurturing an organizational culture that will dismantle systems of oppression, uplift people from underrepresented communities, and create a workplace that is truly equitable and inclusive. As such, we strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented communities to apply.

The Position
The Racial Economic Justice Program empowers Black and Brown workers who are discriminated against and economically exploited. We protect and advance the civil rights of people of color in the workplace and beyond, with the aim of building a world with racial equity, solidarity, respect, dignity, and economic justice for all. We seek systems change through policy advocacy, legal services, organizing, community education, and litigation.

We offer free, confidential advice, represent individuals in low-wage jobs and industries, litigate race discrimination cases, and organize and educate workers to fight against discrimination and vindicate their rights under Ban the Box and Fair Chance laws. We also advocate for systems and policy change to challenge structural racism and advance the rights of marginalized workers, including workers of color and persons with arrest or conviction records in California and beyond.

Legal Aid at Work seeks an Interim Program Director to lead our Racial Economic Justice Program, which is operating at the forefront of some of the most pressing challenges that low-wage workers of color currently face. In particular, the Program is preparing to litigate a cutting-edge civil litigation case that requires a seasoned litigator and legal strategist. This interim role represents a unique opportunity to join the team at a critical point in case development and litigation against racial discrimination in the workplace.

Responsibilities
The Interim Program Director will work closely with the VP of Programs and Litigation to supervise and manage the work of the team, which includes a Staff Attorney, an Advocate, and a Senior Paralegal. This person will be involved in all aspects of the Program’s activities including, but not limited to:

Representing people with race discrimination and related claims in litigation and pre-litigation matters;
Providing individualized counseling to intake callers and clients;
Supervising and mentoring staff and law students, providing guidance and direction as needed;
Conducting outreach and education;
Advocating for policy and systems change for people of color and formerly incarcerated persons;
Managing the Program administration, including coordinating program projects, supervising Program attorneys and staff, timekeeping, and assisting with the preparation of grant applications and reports.
Requirements
The Interim Program Director will join our organization as soon as possible for a period of up to nine months. While not guaranteed, there is the possibility of extension for this position pending organizational needs.

Candidates must be active members of the California State Bar, or be willing to take the next California Bar Examination if currently a member of another state bar. LAAW will consider candidates located anywhere in the state of California. Legal Aid at Work offers employees the flexibility to work primarily from home, contingent on business needs and professional responsibilities. Strong preference will be given to applicants with personal or professional experience working with impacted communities.

The following list of core competencies and experiences is provided to share insight into the requirements of the role and the general level of experience we seek in candidates. We encourage all qualified candidates and those with relevant or transferable experience to apply, even if you do not bring experience in all of the areas noted below.

Demonstrated commitment to social justice and civil rights work; a passion for Legal Aid at Work’s mission of seeking justice for low-wage workers;
5+ years of litigation experience is strongly preferred;
Knowledge of federal and California employment and civil rights law and court and administrative procedures;
Demonstrated experience with investigation, development, initiation and litigation of law reform including discovery/e-discovery, depositions, motion practice, hearings, trials and appeals in California and/or Federal courts;
Track record of serving as a lead or thought partner on case strategy for large, complex litigation;
Strong case management experience, taking the lead on discovery and anticipating responses and timelines;
Excellent legal research and writing skills;
Ability to think creatively and strategically about novel legal issues leading to successful litigation;
Ability to be responsive to/led by community needs and partnerships with community organizations;
A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the ability to hold and foster difficult and necessary conversations about sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other protected categories;
A commitment to racial equity work and incorporating racial equity principles into legal advocacy;
Ability to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive issues and to maintain confidentiality;
Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, leadership, and organizational abilities;
The ability to travel as necessary within California and to other parts of the country for litigation, speaking events, meetings, and conferences.
Compensation
Legal Aid at Work offers salaries that are competitive in the public interest law community. Benefits include health plans, long-term disability and life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, and generous paid vacation and holidays. As a unionized organization, Legal Aid at Work believes in the importance of employees organizing to improve their working conditions. This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by ESC Local 20. Salary placement at hire and salary advancement will be in accordance with the negotiated salary scale in the union contract for this position. Attorney salaries are paid depending on years out of law school and range from $90,000 to $172,950. This Interim Program Director position will receive a pro-rated annual premium payment of $6,000.