About CRLA:
California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty law firm dedicated to dismantling unjust systems through community lawyering in California’s historically rural areas. For over five decades, we have partnered with communities priced out of private legal representation to uphold civil rights in housing, employment, health, and public education. Building on a radical legacy rooted in the farmworker movement and the War on Poverty, CRLA continues to fight for the rights and prosperity of rural Californians through bold advocacy, systemic change, and a vision of thriving, empowered communities. CRLA’s community-led legal services activate community power to achieve justice, ensuring our clients and partners have the tools to dismantle poverty, discrimination, and systemic inequities.
Joining CRLA means becoming part of a team that honors dignity, fights for fairness, and embraces bold, community-led solutions to systemic injustices.
Position: Directing Attorney – Eviction Prevention
Reports to: Legal Director - Housing
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Location: Any CRLA Office
Term of Employment: Regular, Full-Time
Other: FLSA Exempt, Non-Union Position
Position Overview:
The Directing Attorney for Eviction Prevention will lead a team dedicated to defending tenants’ rights and representing Defendants in unlawful detainer litigation. This role is responsible for supervising advocates, setting strategic priorities, and ensuring high-quality legal services in eviction prevention across CRLA’s statewide service area. The role includes interpreting tenant protection laws, defending tenants facing unjust evictions, and creating streamlined strategies for high-volume litigation in unlawful detainer cases, while collaborating with local offices and external stakeholders to align efforts statewide.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership and Mentorship: Supervise Staff Attorneys, Case Workers, and Legal Secretaries; provide guidance on complex cases and systemic litigation.
- Strategic Planning: Collaborate with the Legal Director and other Directing Attorneys to develop and execute eviction prevention strategies.
- Case and Advocacy Oversight: Carry a small caseload focused on co-counseling high-impact cases, and oversee systemic litigation and advocacy efforts.
- Collaboration: Work with local Justice Centers, external agencies, and other CRLA teams to share resources and align efforts.
- Resource Development: Identify funding opportunities, manage grant deliverables, and contribute to programmatic growth.
- Data and Metrics: Evaluate advocacy outcomes and identify trends to inform eviction prevention priorities, leveraging data to propose policy changes and develop systemic litigation strategies.
Required Qualifications:
- A minimum of 10 years in advocacy roles focused on housing law, tenants' rights, and eviction defense, the majority of which should be experience as an attorney.
- A minimum of 8 years of experience working with historically marginalized populations.
- At least 3 years of leadership and management experience in program development, systemic advocacy, or organizational strategy, including supervising attorneys or advocates.
- Demonstrated success in systemic advocacy, including impactful litigation, policy campaigns, and collaboration with community organizations.
- Admitted to the California Bar or another state bar with a willingness to take the next California Bar Exam.
Highly Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working within rural, low-income, BIPOC, or other underserved communities, addressing housing-specific challenges and systemic barriers.
- Proven success in securing funding or managing deliverables tied to grants, with experience in resource development.
- Strong knowledge of state and federal laws and regulatory frameworks related to tenants’ rights,
- Fluency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in CRLA’s client communities.
- Familiarity with the challenges of managing high-volume caseloads or complex advocacy campaigns.
- Experience building and maintaining coalitions with government agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders to advance systemic advocacy.
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 (Directing 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.
