Staff Attorney (Medical Debt Relief) Hybrid
WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1966, CRLAs 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 farmworkers, indigenous populations, individuals with disabilities, immigrant populations, LGBTQ+ communities, women, children, and low-income families in rural areas.
Project: To reduce the impact of medical debt on underserved, rural Californians by increasing access to legal services to address medical debt and related health insurance coverage matters. This will be accomplished by expanding the geographic scope of CRLA’s Health Consumer Program, which has historically limited services to Imperial County. This project will be to decrease medical debt for low-income individuals and families living in rural and semi-rural California counties – a population facing medical debt burden due to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 on low-income Californians, as well as its widespread disruption of the healthcare industry. Medical debt direct services will be sustained in Imperial County and expanded to an additional 18 rural and semi-rural counties (i.e., Colusa, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Ventura, Yuba).
Civil Legal Services related to: debt collection, wage garnishment, or bank account levy defense, financial abuse related to consumer debt, protection against unfair debt collection practices, protection against unfair or predatory lending and consumer scams, credit reporting and credit discrimination, bankruptcy, and other debt matters, including those related to student loans, auto loans, credit cards, and medical debt.
- Position: Staff Attorney
- Experience: 6+ months years
- Application Deadline: Open until filled
- Location: Any CRLA Office (Hybrid)
- Other: FLSA Exempt, Full Time, Union Position
Reporting to the Directing Attorney, the Staff Attorney will focus exclusively on medical debt and medical debt-related health consumer matters to address the impacts of COVID-19 on medical debt in rural California by providing comprehensive legal services to eligible clients in CRLA priority areas in accordance with CRLA program guidelines, the ABA Standards for Providers of Civil Legal Services, and the Code of Professional Responsibility. Funding for this position is through 12/31/2025, with the expectation that continued funding will be awarded.
Essential Responsibilities/Duties:
- Provides statewide legal services to low-income clients and client groups, including advice, negotiation, litigation, and administrative advocacy in accordance with program priorities and case-handling policies.
- Reviews and supervises the work product of Community Workers and Clerical support staff relating to all clients being advised or represented by him/her.
- Undertakes significant statewide impact activity, including institutional and group litigation or community economic development beneficial to the low-income community.
- Develops leadership in working with community, client, and other advocacy groups related to statewide impact issues.
- Works to develop specialized knowledge in a substantive area of poverty law and acts as a resource for other staff through participation in at least one CRLA task force.
- Coordinates advocacy in substantive areas through collaboration with other human services providers, non-profit organizations, and community, client, or other advocacy groups.
- Participates in CRLA training programs, local office case reviews or staff meetings, or other CRLA activities as required.
- Provides community education regarding legal rights and prepares materials relating to these presentations.
- Works with members of the private bar as necessary in accordance with CRLA Private Bar Involvement.
- Maintains contemporaneous time records in the CRLA case management system.
- Maintains a good working relationship with all members of the office staff.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
- Admitted to practice law in the State of CA or willing to take the next CA Bar Exam.
- Demonstrated commitment to working with low-income clients.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- Able to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
- Good people skills and the ability to maintain positive relations with a diverse population.
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 and additional relevant language ability.
- Bilingual (English & Spanish).
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 $6,000 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 union position (Legal Service Workers for Rural California "LSWRC" ), and the salary ranges from (Staff Attorney: $65,500-$90,000) 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.
CRLA invites all applicants to submit their resume and in their cover letter a statement about how their unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.
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.