Support Staff Supervisor

Description

WHO WE ARE : California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) is an anti-poverty law firm that dismantles unjust systems through community lawyering in California’s historically rural areas. We work with people priced out of private legal representation so they can uphold civil rights in housing, employment, health, and public education. Through our 17 Rural Justice Centers, communities can access a broad range of legal tools, including direct legal services, place-based advocacy to expand equity in civic institutions, and specialized litigation to advance civil rights .

• Position: Support Staff Supervisor – Agricultural Worker Justice Program
• Experience: 5+ years of experience as an Administrative Legal Secretary or similar
• Application Deadline: Open until filled
• Location: Stockton, Fresno, Coachella, Oxnard, or Salinas
• Term of Employment: Full-Time, long-term
• Other: FLSA Non-Exempt, Non-Union Position
  
  

The Support Staff Supervisor will support the Agricultural Worker Justice Program’s ("AWJP") advocacy efforts. The supervisor reports to the AWJP Legal Director, Anali Cortez Bulosan.

The Support Staff Supervisor oversees all support staff activities, including managing communications, correspondence, legal document preparation, filing, travel arrangements, calendar management, and general organizational matters. This role involves developing and implementing project- and organization-wide support strategies, managing legal expenditures, coordinating litigation with outside counsel, and maintaining records of litigated matters. Additionally, the supervisor fosters key relationships within and outside the organization. The Support Staff Supervisor is the direct supervisor for AWJP’s Administrative Legal Secretaries and Legal Secretaries, and handles the hiring, onboarding, training, and day-to-day supervision of AWJP support staff.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities :

• Run compliance reports on a weekly or monthly basis, ensuring that grant funding codes are appropriately assigned, administrative case tasks are completed, and all necessary data is collected.
• Lead the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and ongoing training of AWJP Support Staff
• Supervise the day-to-day work of AWJP Support Staff and handle personnel issues.
• Lead training and professional development programs for support staff, legal secretaries, and administrative legal secretaries to enhance their skills and efficiency.
• Oversee and manage legal filings and court inquiries, ensuring accurate and timely distribution of tasks among support staff.
• Coordinate litigation efforts, including managing legal expenditures and maintaining organized records of litigated cases in conjunction with the ALS(s).
• Develop and implement program-wide support strategies, fostering a cohesive and effective support team.
• Assist in developing written procedures and guidelines for administrative activities.
• Cultivate and maintain key relationships within and outside the organization and manage coordination with interns and volunteers.
• Act as the leader of AWJP Support Staff and facilitate communication between the support staff, other team members, and supervisors.
• Act as a liaison to local courts, along with the administrative team, and assist in addressing court policies that affect AWJP clients and impede access to justice.
• Stay up to date with the latest legal developments and the processes used by AWJP staff.
• Participates in AWJP and CRLA supervision meetings, leadership development, and monitoring strategies.
• Take the lead in organizing case review notes in conjunction with the ALS.
• Assist in the administration of the AWJP hotline (RingCom), including adjusting and promulgating the intake schedule and coordinating coverage for intake shifts as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Familiarity with common filings and court records in state and federal civil proceedings (2+ years desired)
• Experience working with low-income agricultural workers
• Understanding and experience in meeting the needs of the AWJP and its clients, especially rural communities in California
• Ability to sympathize or empathize with the client community
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact constructively with diverse populations
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Superior organizational skills, especially as demonstrated by the ability to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in tracking and monitoring program outcomes
• Computer and data analysis skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Google applications
  
  

Preferred

Preferred Education and Experience:

A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:

• Experience in a non-profit legal services environment.
• Spanish fluency or additional language ability relevant to the primary communities.
  
  

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary DOE; Generous benefits package includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance, and 401K retirement plan contribution. Fourteen (14) paid Holidays, generous vacation and sick leave policy.

Application

CRLA invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

California Rural Legal Assistance thrives on our diversity and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply