Job Details
Job Location
Fresno Office – Fresno, CA
Position Type
Full Time
Job Category
Legal
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 farm workers, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBTQ+ communities, women, children, and families in rural areas.
THE LGBTQ+ PROGRAM
In 2007 CRLA launched its LGBTQ+ Program, which has been nationally recognized for its innovative approaches and positive impact. The LGBTQ+ Program also engages in sustained partnerships with rural community leaders, LGBTQ+ community centers, and other supportive organizations and agencies committed to breaking down barriers that cause entrenched poverty. The LGBTQ+ Program Community Worker is a client and community advocate to support CRLA’s statewide advocacy for LGBTQ+ people and is essential in the implementation of its goal to increase access to justice for low-income LGBTQ+ people in rural California.
Position: Community Worker – LGBTQ+
Experience: 6+ months
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Location: Fresno (Hybrid)
Other: FLSA Non-Exempt, Full-Time, Union Position
The Community Worker will help increase access to justice for low-income lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people in rural California, including LGBTQ+ agricultural workers and immigrants. CRLA regularly represents LGBTQ+ clients in a variety of types of legal cases, including education, immigration, employment discrimination, as well as identity corrections. CRLA provides legal services, community legal education and leadership development opportunities; and builds active, sustained partnerships with rural LGBTQ+ community centers, supportive organizations and public agencies.
Reporting to the LGBTQ+ Program Legal Director, the LGBTQ+ Program Community Worker will perform community outreach, provide legal information, conduct initial interviews to determine the nature of the legal problem/s and to identify the type of legal assistance being sought by CRLA applicants, support year round self-help clinics, and support case handlers with advocacy activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Community Outreach and Education
- Work with the Staff Attorneys, Program Coordinator and Legal Director to develop educational materials for rural LGBTQ+ communities.
- Coordinate and conduct community outreach and education in at least 5 targeted communities to help client communities understand and assert their legal rights.
Coalition Building
- Act as liaison between CRLA and other organizations, agencies and coalitions.
- Collaborate with public and private stakeholders as appropriate to increase investment in and representation of LGBTQ+ communities.
- Elevate awareness of challenges facing LGBTQ+ rural communities through in-person presentations and the use of various media outlets.
- Participate in issue and community-based coalitions as requested by the Legal Director.
Research and Advocacy
- Work with Staff Attorneys, Program Coordinator and Legal Director to develop and implement advocacy strategies for a minimum of 7 rural counties.
- Monitor and attend local, county and state meetings and convenings related to services, law and policies, health and the overall wellbeing of rural LGBTQ+ communities.
- Represent client’s interests in administrative hearings and other forums appropriate to a non-lawyer and engage in lay advocacy to the extent permissible under the law and the code of professional ethics.
- Prepare simple documents from standard forms.
- Assist pro-per clients in identifying helpful information for the presentation of their cases.
Leadership Development and Community Empowerment
- Work with the Program Coordinator to develop and conduct self-help name and gender marker correction clinics and workshops.
- Collaborate with CRLA and Program staff to develop capacity and leadership among LGBTQ+ communities and CRLA’s regional Comites.
- Help with the facilitation of a bilingual LGBTQ+ support group in Fresno.
General
- Work collaboratively and respectfully with CRLA staff, clients, and community partners.
- Support litigation by assisting with investigation, discovery, and communication with clients.
- Collaborate with community partners and funders as requested.
- Report on grant deliverables in a timely manner.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS & QUALITIES of our ideal candidate: We intend to bring a candidate with as many of the following qualifications and qualities as possible.
- Oral and written fluency in Spanish and English is required.
- Knowledge of and experience serving LGBTQ+, rural, immigrant, and low-income clients.
- Ability to engage in intersectional advocacy and to bring the lens of intersectionality to CRLA’s work with clients and community partners.
- Experience conducting community outreach events, workshops and community education presentations.
- Ability to use internet, database, and computer word processing programs.
- Willingness to work some evenings and weekend days.
- Willingness to travel regionally and statewide.
- Applicants must have car and car insurance.
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.
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).
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 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.
#LI-DNI