DESCRIPTION
POSITION:
Central California Legal Services, Inc. (CCLS) seeks a Deputy Director-Legal. The Deputy Director-Legal reports to the Executive Director, oversees the delivery of quality legal services by CCLS legal staff on a day-to-day basis to eligible clients, and assists the Executive Director and other administrators with the overall operation of the program.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Established over 50 years ago, CCLS provides free legal advice and representation in civil matters to eligible low-income individuals throughout its six-county service area. Our mission is “To Advance Justice and Empower People.” The organization’s clients are the working poor, families with young children, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, senior citizens, and other low-income individuals.
CCLS employs attorneys, paralegals and support and administrative staff with additional significant program support from pro bono attorneys, law students, interns and other volunteers. We provide services through fully staffed offices located in the cities of Fresno, Merced and Visalia. Services are available to low-income residents of Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Merced, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties. In addition, through our partnership with the Health Consumer Alliance, we serve residents in the counties of Madera, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Monterey, and San Benito regarding their specific healthcare concerns. We also provide services through our Legal Advice Line.
CCLS works in the community to help people when their rights are restricted, compromised, limited, and/or denied. Our work significantly benefits the general public by fostering community leadership and development of clients and staff. CCLS enhances its service delivery by combining efforts with other organizations and diverse communities to provide quality services.
*For further information about CCLS please visit our website at www.centralcallegal.org.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Oversees the delivery of legal services on a day-to-day basis;
2. Supervises the Litigation and Advocacy Director, the supervising attorneys/team leaders, and the Voluntary Legal Services Program Supervising Attorney;
3. Assists the Litigation and Advocacy Director to identify training needs and to ensure delivery of training for advocacy staff (attorneys & paralegals);
4. Monitors and assists in case review, and otherwise supports team leaders in supervising legal work by advocacy staff;
5. Ensures the provision of high quality legal services to clients;
6. Handles litigation of individual cases; co-counsels with legal staff on litigation;
7. Conducts intake and case review, as needed;
8. Assesses and handles client grievances per established procedures;
9. May on occasion be required to assist the Executive Director and management staff with fund development, board development; networking with community based organizations; and statewide, regional, and national task forces and meetings;
10. Assists with preparation of reports to the Legal Services Corporation and other funding sources;
11. In conjunction with the supervising attorneys/team leaders, interviews and makes recommendations for the hiring of legal staff;
12. In conjunction with the Deputy Director of Administration and Human Resources, may be required to develop protocols for the recruitment and retention of attorneys;
13. Assists the Litigation and Advocacy Director as a resource and mentor for staff attorneys and advocacy workers.
14. Additional duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Minimum of ten years experience as an attorney with an active civil litigation caseload;
2. Minimum of five years experience in management preferred;
3. Significant trial and appellate court litigation experience;
4. Member in good standing of the State Bar of California;
5. Previous legal aid or other non-profit legal services desirable;
6. Bilingual ability (preferred);
7. Proven organizational skills, leadership and management skills;
8. Excellent oral and written communication skills;
9. Ability to travel as needed, proof of liability and property insurance on vehicle used.
HOW TO APPLY
mromero@centralcallegal.org