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 a Staff Attorney to provide legal representation to survivors in a variety of immigration matters, with a focus on providing relief under VAWA and the U and T Visa. In addition to the humanitarian-based affirmative petitions, the position is responsible for attending interviews before USCIS, assisting in removal defense hearings at EOIR (Immigration Court), and assisting with ICE check-ins, as needed. The successful candidate will also represent immigrant survivors in the areas of criminal justice advocacy and public benefits, among other related areas of practice that intersect with survivor areas of need. Responsibilities will include:

  • Providing litigation-related services and representation to survivors in immigration law matters, on a variety of humanitarian-based issues;
  • Drafting legal documents, conducting discovery, executing case management activities, providing oral advocacy and negotiating in hearings/ trials;
  • Conducting client intakes and maintaining a client case load;
  • Maintaining detailed case notes and accurate timekeeping in case management system;
  • Providing presentations and trainings to community partners and client communities on immigration topics and other legal remedies for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, as well as other related legal issues;
  • Developing relationships and collaborating with a range of public and private community partners to address systemic barriers facing the Center’s client community;
  • Assisting with connecting clients to non-legal supportive services as needed;
  • Collecting client data for grant reporting purposes;
  • Following organizational and grant compliance policies and procedures;
  • Participating in staff trainings and meetings;
  • Adhering to standards of professional responsibility; and,
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school
  • Membership in good standing in the California Bar
  • Demonstrated knowledge of immigration law with a minimum of 1 year’s experience
  • Fluency in written and spoken Spanish

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $75,000-$90,000 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 “Staff Attorney, Immigration” in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

Click for full job description (opens in new tab).

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.

Click for full job description (opens in new tab).

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.

Click for full job description (opens in new tab).

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.

Click for full job description (opens in new tab).

Survivor Justice Center is seeking a Senior Attorney with significant experience in the practice of immigration law and a strong commitment to social justice advocacy. The successful candidate will represent low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking in a variety of affirmative and defensive immigration matters, with a focus on providing relief under VAWA, U and T Visas. The position is responsible for representing clients at interviews before USCIS, at removal defense hearings at EOIR, at hearings in state courts to obtain SIJS orders, and at ICE check-ins, as needed. The successful candidate will also represent immigrant survivors in the areas of criminal justice advocacy and public benefits and other related areas of practice that intersect with survivor areas of need. Finally, this senior attorney position will provide mentorship, guidance, and technical assistance to immigration staff attorneys, legal advocates, and pro bono partners, as needed.

Responsibilities

Key duties include but are not limited to:

  • Providing litigation-related services such as: drafting legal documents, conducting discovery, case management, oral advocacy, and negotiation in hearings and trials;
  • Drafting immigration petitions, motions and appeals to USCIS, EOIR, and BIA, as needed;
  • Conducting client intakes and maintaining a client caseload;
  • Providing mentorship to other attorneys and co-counseling cases with staff as needed;
  • Providing educational presentations to community partners and client communities on immigration topics and legal remedies for immigrant survivors;
  • Leading projects related to specialized areas of immigration law;
  • 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 the development of 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.

Qualifications

  • J.D. degree and membership in good standing in the California Bar
  • A minimum of seven years’ legal experience, including experience as lead counsel
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and expertise in immigration law
  • Excellent legal writing and oral advocacy skills
  • Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish

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, Immigration” in subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

Click for full job description (opens in new tab).

The Legal Advocate position is a full-time, non-exempt (hourly) role that assists attorneys with legal matters and provides support to clients in survivor-based legal cases. The Legal advocate will work primarily within the immigration legal team at Survivor Justice Center.

Essential Job Skills and Abilities

  • Prepare client correspondence and memoranda
  • Draft legal forms, notices, declarations, and other legal documents under attorney supervision
  • Prepare client evidence for court or other types of legal filings
  • Conduct interviews and engage in fact-gathering with clients
  • Provide case-related information to clients
  • Communicate with clients, law enforcement, and governmental agencies like the Department of Children and Family Services
  • Under attorney supervision, prepare cover letters and immigration-specific forms and related supplemental documents for filing with USCIS and the Executive Office of Immigration Review
  • Perform legal research to support attorneys
  • Perform searches, retrieve documents, and make copies of filings
  • Translate documents from Spanish to English (and vice versa)
  • Calendar deadlines and events for client matters
  • Fax, scan and mail documents as needed
  • Prepare, organize, and maintain digital files for clients
  • Participate in regular team meetings and trainings
  • Adhere to all Survivor Justice Center policies and procedures
  • Other tasks and duties as assigned

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or, associate’s degree combined with a Certificate of Completion from a paralegal program approved by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
  • Minimum of one year of legal experience in immigration, under the supervision of an experienced attorney
  •  Ability to read, write and speak fluently in Spanish
  • Familiarity with USCIS forms, especially those related to U visa, VAWA, T visa petitions.
  • Commitment to trauma-informed advocacy, cultural responsiveness, empathy, responsive listening, and demonstration of authentic care and concern
  • Ability to work collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite particularly Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time (35-hour/week), non-exempt position with an hourly rate of $29-$31 per hour depending on experience. The Center offers a generous benefits package that includes: a 35-hour workweek, 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 “Legal Advocate” in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

Click for full job description (link opens in a new tab). 

Survivor Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, disability, or sexual orientation.

View other ways you can get involved at Survivor Justice Center.