ER Staff Attorney - COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY AND TRAFFICKING

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STAFF ATTORNEY

Exempt Position

If you are looking for an organization where your gifts, talents, skills, and abilities contribute to a greater cause, join our team. Our Mission: Ending human trafficking through education, advocacy and an empowerment model of providing direct legal and social services to survivors of human trafficking.

About Us: The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that is working to put an end to human trafficking through comprehensive, life-changing services to survivors and a platform to advocate for groundbreaking policies and legislation. Over the past two decades, Cast has supported thousands of survivors through every phase of their journey to freedom-from counseling to legal resources to housing, educational and leadership training, and mentorship. Through these programs, Cast has worked with survivors to become leading voices in shaping policy and public awareness to ultimately put an end to human trafficking.

Cast offers generous benefits, including medical, life, disability, paid sick/vacation time, and a 403(b) plan. Additionally, we provide you an opportunity to work with a team of committed individuals, where you are supported, provided a space to have work-life balance and given every chance to succeed.

Title/Position: Emergency Response Staff Attorney

Status: Exempt

Department: Legal Department

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Southern California/Hybrid Remote

Summary of Position

Cast's legal department provides comprehensive legal services to U.S. and noncitizen survivors of sex and labor trafficking, including assisting clients seeking immigration, criminal and civil relief. Cast's legal department also provides emergency response to breaking cases and assesses all potential victims.

As part of our emergency response program, Cast runs a 24-hour hotline for survivors of Human Trafficking. Potential victims that contact the hotline are as needed referred to a Cast attorney who conducts a factual intake by phone to determine whether the individual's experiences meet the legal definition of human trafficking, and as appropriate, advise them of their legal rights and the services available. One of the Emergency Response (ER) Staff Attorney's primary responsibilities will be aiding in this response by conducting factual intakes of potential victims, including those escaping trafficking within the last 24 hours. Such calls will be handled in accordance with the legal department's ER Rotation schedule. The ER Staff attorney will be on Night ER (5 pm to 9 am) for one week, once a month and will be on Day ER (9 am to 5 pm) for one week, twice a month. Please note that the ER staff attorney WILL NOT be directly handling hotline calls. Cast hotline staff and ER social services staff will be handling all calls that come into the hotline and the ER staff attorney will be contacted by the Cast ER Social Services team to conduct a factual intake by phone ONLY WHEN NEEDED.

The ER Staff Attorney's other primary responsibility will be to carry a small caseload providing short-term legal services to survivors of human trafficking with emergency legal needs, including, but not limited to, filing restraining orders, providing victim-witness representation, aiding in criminal defense, and assisting survivors in applying for California Victim Compensation Board benefits. Additionally, the ER Staff Attorney will be responsible for a small caseload involving long-term legal services, including, but not limited to, immigration relief, criminal defense and post-conviction relief, victim-witness representation, and civil litigation. The Emergency Response (ER) Staff Attorney will report to the Associate Director of Legal Services and Impact Litigation.

This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of a human rights, strengths-based approach in serving clients, and the ability to employ key trauma informed legal advocacy, including client empowerment, professional boundaries, and self-care. This position also requires client management expertise, independent decision-making ability, and excellent interpersonal and teambuilding skills. This is a full-time, exempt position, and as with all positions at Cast, work-life balance is prioritized.

Essential Responsibilities

1. In coordination with Cast's social services team, respond to calls to the Cast 24-hour hotline during required shifts by conducting factual intakes of potential victims, including those escaping trafficking within the last 24 hours, as requested by Cast ER Social Services team. The ER Staff attorney will be on Night ER (5 pm to 9 am) for one week, once a month, and will be on Day ER (9 am to 5 pm) for one week, twice a month. Please note that the ER staff attorney WILL NOT be directly handling hotline calls. Cast hotline staff and Cast ER social services staff will be handling all calls that come into the hotline and the ER staff attorney will be contacted by the Cast ER Social Services team to conduct a factual intake by phone ONLY WHEN NEEDED.
2. Perform factual intake in accordance with the law, and provide and manage initial legal screening for new clients, including assessing short-term and long-term legal needs.
3. Provide legal assistance to clients with urgent, short-term legal needs, including, but not limited to, filing restraining orders, providing victim-witness representation, aiding in criminal defense, and assisting survivors in applying for California Victims Compensation Board benefits.
4. Provide legal representation for a small caseload of clients in need of long-term legal services including, but not limited to, immigration relief, criminal defense and post-conviction relief, victim-witness representation, and civil litigation.
5. Assist clients in obtaining legal representation for long-term legal cases either through placement internally at Cast or through referral to a partner legal service provider.
6. Work collaboratively with social services and shelter staff.
7. Support advocacy work for policy reform that emphasizes the human rights of trafficked persons, migrants and low wage workers.
8. Provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to legal aid organizations, law firms, and law enforcement to assist trafficked clients.

Requirements

1. Active membership in the California State Bar required.

1. Commitment to serving the needs of trafficked persons, migrants and low-wage workers.
2. Ability to develop cooperative relationships with other legal service providers in areas relevant to trafficked persons (includes immigration law and labor law).
3. Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with trafficked persons, legal organizations, community-based organizations, volunteer lawyers, and government agencies.
4. Ability to develop and implement effective systems for managing caseload.
5. Ability to respond to emergency and breaking cases and be on call by phone from 9 am to 5 pm two weeks per month and from 5 pm to 9 am one week per month.

1. Excellent interpersonal skills and honest communications.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Knowledge of trafficking and the issues affecting trafficked persons.
2. Bilingual preferred.
3. Experience working with victims of trauma or abuse.
4. Substantive experience with immigration, criminal law, family law, and/or victims' rights advocacy.

Compensation

Salary is commensurate with experience. The benefits package includes medical, life, disability, sick/vacation leave, and a 403(b) plan. Opportunity to work with a team of committed individuals, be supported, and be given every chance to succeed.

Applicants for this position should submit their cover letter, resume, and writing sample via our online portal. Due to the high volume of resumes received, only qualified candidates will be contacted. No Phone Calls, Please.

Cast is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (Cast) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Cast complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.