EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW CENTER JOB ANNOUNCEMENT RACIAL JUSTICE SENIOR FELLOW 2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 t 510.548.4040 f 510.548.2566 www.ebclc.org
The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) seeks an exceptional individual to serve as a Racial Justice Senior Fellow in the Clean Slate Reentry Services Practice. The Senior Fellow will spend the majority of his/her time developing and bringing impact litigation designed to alleviate class-wide problems associated with the retention of criminal history information by public and private entities and the transmission to and use of such information by potential employers, licensing agencies, and other public and private entities. The litigation work will be done in collaboration with the Social Justice Law Project (SJLP), EBCLC’s partner in this effort and a pioneering organization in this arena. Additionally, the Fellow will continue and expand EBCLC’s efforts in clinical education excellence, deepen EBCLC’s reentry policy advocacy, and help coordinate and provide technical assistance and training to reentry legal services providers throughout California. This is a two-year Fellowship position with the possibility of continuation dependent on funding.
The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 to provide high quality legal services to low-income clients and educational opportunities for law students and community volunteers. As UC Berkeley Law School's community-based legal services clinic, EBCLC is currently the largest provider of legal services for low-income residents in the East Bay. EBCLC has practice areas that include: housing, health, welfare, economic development, homeless rights, immigration, reentry, consumer, education and youth defense.
The Clean Slate Practice aims to help people seeking to mitigate the impact of criminal records on their lives through free direct legal services, clinical training of law students, and technical assistance to other reentry organizations and advocates. Direct services include civil, criminal and administrative court advocacy and impact litigation related to records accuracy, employment advocacy & the enforcement of consumer rights with respect to commercial criminal background checks. Clean Slate staff also engage in affirmative & defensive policy advocacy at the local, state and national level, with the goal of expanding opportunities for people who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develop and bring impact litigation to mitigate, on a class-wide basis, the impact of criminal records on the lives of persons, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, with such records.
- Collaborate with and be the primary liaison between the Clean Slate Practice and the Social Justice Law Project (SJLP) of Oakland, California. Co-counsel and work closely with SJLP in developing and bringing impact litigation in the above areas.
- Work closely and collaborate with other Clean Slate Practice staff.
- Train, supervise, and support the legal work of law student intern(s), including regular individual case reviews, group case rounds, supervision of research projects related to reentry legal issues, and assistance in teaching the clinical companion course.
- Track and respond to emerging or resurgent legal needs in the reentry community and develop appropriate responses, including impact litigation, education and outreach, technical assistance, and policy advocacy.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Licensed to practice law in California preferred.
- At least five (5) years of legal practice, with demonstrated civil litigation experience.
- Desire to make a substantial commitment to the development and litigation of impact cases.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice, criminal justice, and experience working in low-income communities of color.
- 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 work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including low-income clients, people of color, people with criminal records, students, service providers, elected officials, court staff, foundations, non-profit community partners, pro bono attorneys, and law school faculty.
- Spanish or Asian language skills desirable.
Salary:
Competitive public interest salary commensurate with experience; generous benefits package included.
Application Procedures:
Mail, fax, or email the following application materials to Racial Justice Senior Fellow Hiring Committee, East Bay Community Law Center, 2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703; fax: (510) 548-2566; jobs@ebclc.org:
(1) Letter of interest
(2) Resume
(3) Writing Sample
(4) Three professional references
Deadline for receipt of applications has been extended to Sunday, July 28, 2013. EBCLC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, ethnic background, sex, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, women, sexual minorities, people who have had contact with the criminal justice system, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.