The East Bay Community Law Center is seeking an exceptional individual to lead its community economic justice clinic, currently called the Green-Collar Communities Clinic (GC3). The organization is seeking someone who will: (1) embrace the organization’s history, experience, core values, culture, and constituents; (2) continue and expand the organization’s track record of superb service delivery and responsiveness to community needs; (3) continue and expand the organization’s efforts in clinical education excellence; and (4) deepen EBCLC’s impact on community economic development legal practice at a local, state, and national level.
GC3 was founded in fall 2011 and currently provides free legal education, advice and representation to low‐income entrepreneurs and nonprofits who seek to create cooperative, worker-owned and environmentally‐sustainable enterprises, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. The new director will help shape EBCLC’s community economic justice work going forward, building on the institutional commitment to (and experience in forming) worker and community ownership opportunities, while responding to the evolving imperative and opportunities to create a true “sharing economy” in the East Bay.
Description of Organization:
EBCLC is a non-profit legal services organization and the community-based clinical program for Berkeley Law School, committed to increasing justice through education and advocacy. Since its founding in 1988, EBCLC has grown to be the largest provider of free legal services in Alameda County and one of the largest clinical programs in the country. With 45 staff, 150 law students, and a $4 million annual budget, EBCLC provides collaborative, multimodal, and holistic services through legal information, referrals, limited-scope services, and representation to over 5,000 clients, and engages in impact litigation and policy advocacy that impacts thousands more.
Primary Responsibilities:
Direct and manage the community economic justice clinic, providing vision, planning and implementation of the work within the context of EBCLC’s larger mission.
Work with EBCLC’s management team to support organization vision, values and mission.
Work with executive director, deputy director and development team to attract financial support for clinic, oversee grants management, and provide general administrative oversight.
Supervise and support clinic’s staff attorney(s) on all aspects of service to clients in a variety of areas, including incorporation and tax exemption; compliance with nonprofit, employment and tax laws; and real estate and lease issues.
Ensure the training, supervision, and support of law student interns on substantive nonprofit, corporate, and cooperative law, including conducting regular individual case reviews and group case rounds, supervising research projects, and assisting in teaching the clinical companion course.
Recruit, train and supervise pro bono attorneys.
Develop and maintain close relationships with other providers of similar services to low-income people throughout California. Engage with community partners on local, regional, and national policy reform and legislative advocacy aimed at addressing the needs of the client community.
Serve as the primary contact with the community and media, including responding to press and service provider inquiries, making presentations to the public, community and other professional groups, and overseeing staff to whom these tasks have been delegated.
Other tasks as assigned by supervisor.
Minimum Qualifications:
Licensed to practice law in California, with at least five years of legal practice in areas related to representing nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, small businesses and cooperatives on transactional, operational, and corporate governance matters; experience in or interest in learning real estate law.
Demonstrated interest in integrating social justice, civil rights, and particularly racial justice into community economic development practice.
Demonstrated experience in developing and advocating for policy and legislative changes.
Experience in or demonstrated commitment to clinical education.
Excellent oral and written communication and advocacy skills.
Ability to work under pressure in an empathetic and professional manner.
Ability to provide supervision and guidance within a highly collaborative working environment
Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including low-income clients, women and clients of color, students, service providers, elected officials, foundations, non-profit organizations, and law school faculty.
Spanish language skills highly desirable.
How to apply
Mail, fax, or email to GC3 Hiring Committee, East Bay Community Law Center, 2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703; fax: (510) 548-2566; jobs@ebclc.org
Letter of interest
Resume
Writing sample (preferably legal writing)
Three references
Deadline for receipt of application is no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5, 2016.
EBCLC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse staff and providing culturally competent services. We strongly encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities and historically oppressed groups, as well as multilingual and multicultural candidates, to apply.