Legal Services Program Attorney

We are hiring for two levels simultaneously: an emerging attorney with 0-3 years of experience and a seasoned practitioner with 2-5+ years. Tell us your experience level when you apply.

About the Organization

Established in 2019, the Central Valley Empowerment Alliance (CVEA) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving rural farmworker communities across Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties. Operating from Poplar, CA, CVEA uses a community-led organizing model rooted in the belief that those most impacted are the experts. They call this approach Radical Love.

CVEA has successfully advocated for a statewide legal services program and secured grant funding to launch a brand new legal department. This is not a seat at an existing table—this is the opportunity to build the table itself.

The Senior Attorney will report directly to the Executive Director and will lead and shape the department, sitting on the leadership team. The Attorney (junior level) will report to the Director of Organizing & Programs, or the Senior Attorney once hired. Both roles will work closely alongside community organizers, state agencies, and legal coalition partners including California Rural Legal Assistance and Central California Legal Services.

Responsibilities

• Community Outreach and Legal Clinics
  • Conduct 6-12 field-based legal clinics and pop-up services annually
  • Lead a minimum of 11 Know Your Rights / Workers' Rights workshops
  • Co-develop outreach materials and education resources
• Legal Services and Case Management
  • Provide 50-75 legal consultations and direct representation over 24 months, primarily in employment matters: wage theft, health and safety violations, retaliation, and leave protections
  • Lead individual and class action cases in state and federal courts—research, strategy, drafting, and trial
  • Manage administrative claims before DLSE, Cal/OSHA, and other state agencies
  • Apply trauma-informed practices and maintain strict client confidentiality at all times
  • Connect clients to holistic support through internal programs and external partners
  • Track systemic issues and identify high-impact or organizing-potential cases
  • Participate in monthly progress meetings and provide grant reporting data
• Department and Organizational Development
  • Design and establish client intake systems, referral pathways, and legal processes from the ground up
  • Mentor and support paralegal and non-attorney advocacy staff
  • Represent CVEA in coalition meetings with legal partners and state agencies
• Senior-Level Responsibilities
  • Advise the Executive Director on department growth, funding strategy, and organizational legal needs
  • Other organizational legal duties as assigned

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Active California State Bar license, in good standing with no relevant disciplinary actions
• Must reside within 60 minutes of Tulare County, or willing to relocate
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (spoken and written)
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Commitment to racial, economic, and immigrant justice—demonstrated through your professional or lived experience
• Comfortable with mobile, field-based legal work including some evenings and weekends to align with community schedules

Preferred Qualifications

• For the Attorney (junior level)
  • 0-3 years of experience in labor/employment law, workers' rights advocacy, or a related social justice practice area
  • Lived experience in immigrant, low-wage, or rural communities
  • Familiarity with trauma-informed legal practices and non-punitive intake structures
  • Experience with any case management software (Justice Space, Salesforce, or similar)
• For the Senior Attorney
  • 2-5+ years of experience in labor/employment law, workers' rights, housing, immigration, or related social justice practice
  • Experience supervising or mentoring staff or other attorneys
  • Track record of working alongside community-based organizations and organizers, not just representing clients in isolation
  • Experience across more than one social justice practice area (employment, housing, immigration, civil rights, health law)
  • Proven ability to manage grant deliverables, program development, or departmental leadership
• Valued for both levels
  • Additional language fluency: Mixteco, Tagalog, Ilocano, Zapoteco, or Hmong
  • Experience with case management software
  • Ability to mentor non-attorney community advocates
  • A 5-year vision for what justice-centered legal work in the Central Valley could look like

Benefits

• Salary
  • Attorney (junior): $85,000 - $95,000 per year
  • Senior Attorney: $95,000 - $115,000 per year
• Medical insurance—employer covers 80% of the lowest plan; employees may upgrade and pay the difference
• Dental and vision insurance
• Basic life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Cell phone stipend
• Generous leave package
• Relocation assistance may be available depending on circumstances and will be discussed on a case-by-case basis