Staff Attorney I, Employment Rights Project - Bet Tzedek Legal Services

For over 50 years, Bet Tzedek has set the standard for innovation and excellence in poverty law. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek established the Employment Rights Project (“ERP”) in 1999. ERP seeks to enforce minimum labor standards in the workplace by assisting low-wage workers through a combination of individual representation before the Labor Commissioner, the Department of Labor, litigation in state and federal court, legislative advocacy, and community education. Our cases involve non-payment of minimum wage and other wage-and-hour violations; workplace discrimination; illegal retaliation in the workplace; and human trafficking for forced labor. This position is a time-limited, full-time position.  

This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services’ hybrid/remote workplace designation. While the primary workplace is Bet Tzedek’s offices, at the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be permitted to work remotely or may be required to work in other locations depending on workload/business obligations. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

•  Represent individuals and client groups before the Labor Commissioner, and in state and federal courts in cases involving wage theft and labor exploitation;
• Work closely with worker centers and other community partners in developing cases;
• Conduct outreach, including: volunteer recruitment at local law schools, know your rights trainings in low income and immigrant communities, and program outreach to the legal community, community-based organizations, and elected officials.
• Participate in a weekly clinic;
• Work with community organizers and other community partners to provide legal support to workplace organizing efforts in low-income workplaces with minimum wage and/or overtime violations;
• Help supervise volunteers and provide direct service in virtual and in-person intake clinics;
• Work closely with Director of Pro Bono Programs to help train, mentor, and place matters with pro bono attorneys;
• Conduct outreach, including: volunteer recruitment at local law schools, know your rights trainings in low-income and immigrant communities, and programmatic communications with strategic audiences
• Engage in creative strategies to combat labor exploitation in the garment, healthcare, car wash, and other industries in Los Angeles. 

$71,412.15-$80,539.95 (DOE/DOQ)

Requirements:

• Active member of the California State Bar in good standing (required);
• 0-3 years of practice experience in civil litigation on behalf of low-wage workers and/or survivors of labor exploitation, experience in wage and hour and/or other employment matters affecting low-income immigrant workers; experience representing survivors of human trafficking; a working knowledge of class action or multi-plaintiff litigation (preferred);
• A working knowledge of the types of immigration humanitarian relief available to victims of crime and survivors of human trafficking (preferred);
• Bilingual and biliterate in both English and Spanish (required);
•  Experience training and working with volunteer attorneys and students (preferred);
• Demonstrated patience, compassion, respect and commitment to serving low-income workers (required); and
• Demonstrated commitment to applying principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in performance of job duties (required).

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

Bet Tzedek offers an excellent benefits package in addition to competitive salaries. These benefits currently include:

• A generous number of paid holidays, vacation, and sick days annually.
• Personal and floating holidays
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment).
• Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
• Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
• Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
• Employee-contributed 401(k) plan.
• Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Email letter of interest, resume, and writing sample to bettzedek.C9.E49@applynow.io, subject: “Staff Attorney, ERP”)

Note: All positions are subject to funding; ongoing funding or employment cannot be assured.



This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services’ hybrid/remote workplace designation. While the primary workplace is Bet Tzedek’s offices, at the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be permitted to work remotely or may be required to work in other locations depending on workload/business obligations.

To best serve our communities Bet Tzedek seeks a diverse staff with cultural competency reflecting our client populations. We strongly encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities and historically oppressed groups to apply.