Description

WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1966, CRLA’s mission is to fight for justice and individual rights alongside the most exploited communities of our society. Through a network of regional offices and cross-cutting programs, CRLA provides legal services to tens of thousands of low-income people annually. Our work impacts farmworkers, indigenous populations, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBTQ communities, women, children, and low-income families in rural areas.

Position: Community Worker -- Tenant Justice Project 

• Experience: 6 months
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location: Hybrid—Modesto
• Term of Employment: Long term (fully funded through December 2024, with continued funding expected)
• Other: FLSA Non-Exempt, Union Position

Reporting to the Supervising Attorneys, the Community Worker will perform initial screenings for eligibility, conduct interviews to determine the nature of the legal problem/s, and identify the type of legal assistance sought by the applicants.

• Applicant Intake:
  • Assist applicants both in-person at the CRLA Modesto office as well as through the Tenant Justice Project’s multi-county hotline. This position is expected to require in-office presence approximately two to four days per week as scheduled. 
  • Perform initial screening for eligibility; interview applicants to determine their legal problem’s nature and identify the type of legal assistance being sought.
  • Interview applicants to learn the underlying causes of their legal problems and how the legal assistance being sought would assist clients in meeting their short, mid-range, and longer-term goals.
  • Provide applicants with appropriate legal information and referrals.
  • Prepare and deliver to attorneys and other staff verbal and written reports of applicant interviews, including facts pertinent to the issues raised by applicants.
  • Assess applicants’ capacities to represent themselves in the legal matter and the obstacles applicants face in meeting their stated goals.
• Conducting Investigations:
  • Gather information through field inquiry and other research related to actual or potential cases and litigation.
  • Prepare documents from standard forms, including unlawful detainer answers, fee waivers, demand letters, and discovery. 
  • Assist clients in identifying helpful information for the presentation of their cases.
  • Provide appropriate advocacy and make referrals where applicable.
• Lay Advocacy:
  • Perform ministerial duties in connection with lawsuits such as filing and the service of process and interpreting for non-English speaking clients in interview situations and before formal and informal tribunals.
• Community Engagement and Education:
  • Provide legal information and skills training to individuals and groups to help our clients understand and assert their legal rights and responsibilities.
• Collaboration with other agencies:
  • Maintain CRLA liaison with community organizations and groups to ensure that CRLA resources address client community needs.
  • Connect with other community organizations to facilitate appropriate referrals.
  • Community Workers may be required to work outside the office, for instance, to work on regional sweeps.
• Perform other tasks assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Applicants must have the ability to perform all of the above duties.
• Commitment to serving low-income clients.
• Skilled at navigating web-based applications.
• Ability to use internet, database, and computer word processing programs.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to interact productively with diverse community populations.
• Spanish-English fluency or fluency in a language other than English spoken by the CRLA client community is required.
• Applicants must have car and car insurance.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques
• Ability to relate to the client community, ability to communicate with client community, ability to ascertain all necessary information of client's legal problem through an oral interview in person or by phone, listening skills, ability to make the client feel comfortable during interviews, ability to take good notes, ability to evaluate, assess and analyze client's problems and make proper referrals.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn the techniques of conducting community outreach events.

Preferred Education and Experience:

A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:

• Experience working with low-income families and communities.
• Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
• Prior experience in legal services.

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.

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Compensation:

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. 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 union position (Legal Service Workers for Rural California "LSWRC"), and the estimated starting hourly range for this position is $24.21 - $32.10 (placement in the range is primarily determined by years of related experience).

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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.

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California Rural Legal Assistance 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. 

Qualifications