Employment
Why Work at Survivor Justice Center?
At Survivor Justice Center, it's not just about what we do – it's about how we do it and who we do it with. Our passionate and dedicated team of attorneys and community advocates, and intake, programmatic, and support staff who work at Survivor Justice Center are really what makes our organization truly special. We're proud of the culture we've built here and strive in all of our operations to take care of our employees so they feel well supported and have the strength to secure justice for our clients. If you're looking for a place where your work matters and your workplace works to support you, consider joining us!
Survivor Justice Center offers competitive benefits including a 35-hour workweek; flexible, hybrid work environment; generous paid vacation, wellness, and personal time; 100% employer-paid medical, dental, disability, and life insurance for employees; 403(b) retirement plan with matching; flexible savings accounts; employee assistance program; and other supplemental insurance offerings.
Current Job Openings
Survivor Justice Center is seeking experienced Senior Legal Advocates (for both full-time and temporary roles) with a strong commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy to provide litigation and case management support for a team of immigration attorneys. Competitive candidates will have 3+ years of experience providing immigration-focused legal support and are preferably authorized by the Department of Justice as an accredited representative. Job responsibilities include:
- Preparing correspondence, memoranda, legal forms and related attachments, notices, declarations and other necessary legal forms under attorney supervision
- Preparing client evidence for court or other types of filing
- Conducting interviews and engaging in fact-gathering with clients
- Providing case-related information to clients
- Communicating with clients, law enforcement, and government agencies
- Performing legal research to assist attorneys as necessary, especially with requests for evidence, motions, appeals and other complex matters
- Performing searches, retrieving documents and making copies of filings
- Translating documents from Spanish to English (and vice versa), and coordinating with translators as needed to obtain translations and interpretation services
- Calendaring deadlines and events for client matters
- Faxing, scanning and mailing documents
- Preparing, organizing, and maintaining accurate electronic files for clients
- Actively participating in team and all-staff meetings, taking leadership or training initiative whenever possible
- Mentoring legal assistants and legal advocates by providing guidance, technical assistance, and fostering professional growth through collaboration
- Serving as a leader and resource for legal assistants and advocates, sharing knowledge, modeling professionalism, and promoting a positive organizational culture through respectful communication and support for mission objectives
- Adhering to all Survivor Justice Center policies and procedures
- Other tasks and duties as assigned
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or associate degree with a Certificate of Completion from a paralegal program approved by the CA Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
- 5+ years of experience providing legal support to an experienced attorney or, 3+ years if experience is directly related to SJC's area of legal practice
- Knowledge of civil filing procedures and deadlines
- Familiarity with EOIR and USCIS forms and deadlines, especially those related to VAWA, U Visa, T Visa, SIJS, and Adjustment of Status
- Willingness to complete the education and training requirements to become an accredited Department of Justice representative (if not already accredited)
- Commitment to trauma-informed advocacy, cultural responsiveness, empathy, responsive listening, and demonstration of authentic care and concern
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds
- Fluency in both English and Spanish (written and verbal)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint
Preferred Candidates will have one or more of the following:
- Full or partial accreditation as a Department of Justice Representative
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law
- Experience and interest in working with low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking and/or immigrant populations
- Experience with high volume client or customer service
Salary and Benefits
The full-time Senior Legal Advocate position is a 35-hour/week, non-exempt position with a hourly pay range of $34-38 per hour depending on experience and accreditation. The Center offers a generous benefits package for full-time employees that includes: a 35-hour workweek, generous paid vacation, sick leave and holiday time off, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees. Additional benefits include: a 403(b) plan with matching, flexible savings accounts, and supplemental insurance offerings. The Center is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
To Apply
Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Marilyn Florentino at marilyn@survivorjusticecenter.org. Please write "Senior Legal Advocate" in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
Survivor Justice Center is seeking an attorney with a strong commitment to public interest and social justice advocacy to join our dedicated team. The successful candidate will represent low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking in a variety of family law matters. While the primary focus of this position is to provide representation in cases involving child custody, the role may also include representation in housing or consumer debt matters. Additionally, the position offers the opportunity for the successful candidate to:
• Provide presentations and training to community partners and client communities on family law topics and related legal issues;
• Develop relationships and collaborate with a range of public and private community partners to address systemic barriers facing the Center’s client community; and,
• Engage in other tasks and projects that further the Center’s mission and operations.
Essential Job Skills and Abilities
• J.D. or LLM degree from an accredited law school
• A member (in good standing) of the California Bar
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team
Preferred Candidates will have one or more of the following:
• Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish
• Commitment to trauma-informed advocacy, cultural responsiveness, empathy, responsive listening, and demonstration of authentic care and concern
• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking and/or immigrant populations
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $75,000-$90,000 depending on experience. The Center offers a generous benefits package that includes: a 35-hour workweek, unlimited vacation, generous paid sick leave and holiday time, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees. Additional benefits include: a 403(b) plan with matching, flexible savings accounts, and supplemental insurance offerings. The Center is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
To Apply
Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Marilyn Florentino at marilyn@survivorjusticecenter.org. Please write “Family Law Staff Attorney” in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
Survivor Justice Center is seeking a Supervising Attorney to oversee its pro bono program, volunteer initiatives, and the California Legal Access for Survivors Project (CLASP) as well as provide direct client representation to low-income survivors in a variety of immigration and family law matters. The successful candidate will work report directly to the Director of Legal Services but will also work closely with the Center’s Executive Director and Director of Development in executing our pro bono strategy and initiatives. Responsibilities will include:
Networking and Outreach
- Serve as the ambassador for Survivor Justice Center’s pro bono program both internally and externally
- Cultivate strong relationships with law firms, in-house counsel offices, and law school public interest and career planning offices
- Actively participate in and attend networking events at partner law firms, volunteer events in the community, and recruiting/ outreach events at law schools
- Collaborate with development and communications staff to engage pro bono attorneys in fundraising campaigns and agency communications
Recruiting and Training
- Oversee the recruitment of pro bono attorneys, law student interns, law fellows, and volunteers
- Recruit new pro bono attorneys, particularly ones willing and able to take on immigration cases
- Recruit service providers that offer victim services in diverse geographic areas and that work with underserved populations
- Recruit, screen, and place law student interns, fellows, and volunteers;
- Oversee communications with potential volunteer attorneys and law students throughout recruiting process;
- Provide ongoing training and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys
- Work with program staff to prepare and deliver legal trainings for pro bono attorneys
- Provide oversight court representation to clients in DVPA matters
- Oversee the preparation and maintenance of all volunteer training materials, educational resources and information handouts;
- Work with program staff to develop and coordinate training programs for volunteers
- Oversee training of staff or volunteers at community agencies and victim advocates to assist victims via CLASP
- Review and update all restraining order forms and online document assembly programs as needed for CLASP Project
Program Management
- Work with Survivor Justice Center supervisors and directors to identify and assign appropriate cases to appropriate volunteer attorneys
- Serve as an internal resource for all pro bono and volunteer matters
- Provide direction and oversight to pro bono associate in all areas including:
- the placement of matters with pro bono attorneys
- the collection and reporting of pro bono program data for fundraising, grant reporting, and operational activities
- the design and execution of volunteer recognition initiatives
- the organization and execution of pro bono clinics and special projects
Legal Representation and Other Duties
- Provide high-quality representation in a limited number of cases from all core legal programs;
- Adhere to standards of professional responsibility and all internal policies and procedures;
- Participate in staff trainings and meetings;
Qualifications
- J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school
- Membership in good standing in the California Bar
- Demonstrated knowledge of immigration and family law
- Minimum of 3 years litigation experience
- Fluency in written and spoken Spanish
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $85,000-$95,000 depending on candidate experience. The Center offers a generous benefits package that includes: a 35-hour workweek, unlimited vacation, generous paid sick leave and holiday time, and 100% employer-paid medical, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees. Additional benefits include: a 403(b) plan with matching, flexible savings accounts, and supplemental insurance offerings. The Center is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
To Apply
Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Marilyn Florentino at marilyn@survivorjusticecenter.org. Please write “Supervising Attorney, Pro Bono” in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
Survivor Justice Center is seeking a Senior Attorney with significant experience and expertise in family law as well as a strong commitment to public interest and social justice advocacy. The successful candidate will represent low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking in a variety of family law matters, primarily taking complex cases and, on an as-needed basis, leading special projects and providing mentorship and guidance to other attorneys. While the primary focus of this position is to provide representation in cases involving child custody, the role may also include representation in housing or consumer debt matters. Day-to-day responsibilities will include:
• Providing litigation-related services, including but not limited to, drafting legal documents, conducting discovery, case management, oral advocacy, and negotiation in hearings and trials;
• Providing mentorship to other attorneys and co-counseling cases with other staff as needed;
• Leading special projects related to specialized areas of law or practice;
• Engaging in community education and outreach activities by conducting presentations and training to partners and client communities on family law topics and related legal issues;
• Assuming a leadership role among community partners and service providers by providing technical assistance and training and participating in provider networks related to areas of expertise;
• Assisting with program administration and helping organization maintain best practices for case management and other areas of service delivery; and,
• Engaging in other tasks and projects that further the Center’s mission and operations.
Essential Job Skills and Abilities
• A minimum of seven years’ legal experience, including experience as lead counsel
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in family law
• J.D. or LLM degree and membership in good standing in the California Bar
• Excellent legal writing and oral advocacy skills
Preferred Candidates will have one or more of the following:
• Commitment to public interest law and prior experience working with survivors of interpersonal violence and/or immigrant populations
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance to junior attorneys
• Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish
• Ability to collaborate and work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience
• Strong attention to detail and case management skills
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $95,000-$105,000 depending on experience. The Center offers a generous benefits package that includes: a 35-hour workweek, unlimited vacation, generous paid sick leave and holiday time, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees. Additional benefits include: a 403(b) plan with matching, flexible savings accounts, and supplemental insurance offerings. The Center is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
To Apply
Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Marilyn Florentino at marilyn@survivorjusticecenter.org. Please write “Senior Attorney, Family Law” in subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
Survivor Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, disability, or sexual orientation.
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