Staff Attorney Position Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center
The Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center (LAS-ELC), one of the preeminent organizations of its kind in the United States, seeks an attorney with substantial litigation experience to assume significant responsibility in impact and enforcement litigation and other advocacy efforts.
The Staff Attorney will litigate employment and employment-related cases on behalf of low-wage workers, with an emphasis on national origin discrimination and immigrant rights. The mission of the National Origin Program, which is carried out through its nationally-recognized Immigrant Workers’ Rights and Language Rights Projects, is to vindicate and expand the workplace rights of recent immigrants to the United States – particularly those who face exploitation on account of their immigrant status, or who have been unfairly denied equal employment opportunities because of their linguistic characteristics. The Staff Attorney will be involved in all aspects of our program’s activities particularly in litigation, working on federal and state court cases from initial fact investigation through complaint drafting, motion practice, discovery, trial, and appellate work. The Staff Attorney may also assist in litigating cases in other LAS-ELC program areas.
Requirements: The position requires California Bar membership, a minimum of three years of progressively developing litigation responsibility in a relevant public interest organization or employment law firm; knowledge of federal and California employment law and court procedures; and excellent legal research and writing and oral advocacy skills. Importantly, candidates must additionally possess a close familiarity with current law relevant to the rights of immigrant workers and, more generally, an awareness of and sensitivity to the social and policy issues that inform advocacy on their behalf. The successful candidate also will be a creative problem solver, strategic thinker, and legal innovator. And, the successful candidate must possess strong interpersonal skills, leadership and organizational abilities, and work collaboratively within teams as well as independently.
Experience working with immigrant communities, and fluency or a high level of proficiency in Spanish, are strongly preferred. A commitment to LAS-ELC’s mission is essential.
Compensation: The LAS-ELC offers salaries that are competitive in the Bay Area public interest law community. Benefits include health plans, long-term disability and life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, and a generous paid vacation and holidays. The position will remain open until filled.
To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a detailed cover letter with résumé, two legal writing samples, law school transcript, and three professional references to:
Staff Attorney Search Committee, Legal Aid Society – Employment Law Center Email: jobs@las-elc.org or Fax: (415)593-0096
The Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center is an equal employment opportunity employer. Further information concerning the organization and its programs can be found at www.las-elc.org.
KJ