Pro Bono Coordinator – Oakland, CA

Are you interested in learning and supporting the inner-workings of an impactful pro bono and volunteer program that helps add critical resources to address the housing crisis, prevent homelessness, displacement, address social inequality and help ensure low-income families obtain stability?  Join BayLegal’s dynamic Pro Bono Department!

Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) is on the front lines fighting for our clients’ rights. BayLegal removes legal barriers to health, safety, and stability through representation, legal advice and information, referrals, community education, and advocacy for low-income individuals and families throughout seven Bay Area counties.

As a regional anti-poverty civil law firm that has been serving our local communities since the 1960s, we are committed to working alongside our clients and community partners to address inter-generational poverty and social inequality.  We have built upon our origins as separate neighborhood legal services organizations into a regional non-profit law firm with over 150 employees.  We practice in multiple legal substantive areas to help our clients protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families. BayLegal works to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault, increase economic stability, protect consumers, expand access to healthcare, and prevent homelessness.  Our clients include the working poor, families with children, foster youth, seniors, immigrants, veterans, individuals impacted by the criminal justice system and persons with disabilities. By serving clients at a wide range of access points, including our six regional county offices, our mobile advocacy clinics, and our nationally recognized legal hotlines, BayLegal has a unique viewpoint to identify patterns of illegal practices and barriers to our clients’ rights in need of broader advocacy and potential impact litigation. BayLegal strives to create equitable access to resources and services to build a foundation from which our clients can thrive.

The Position

The Pro Bono Department Coordinator is a key member of BayLegal’s Pro Bono Department, and actively supports the engagement of a full range of volunteers in the delivery of legal services for low-income communities, from private attorneys to high school volunteers. The Coordinator supports the planning, delivery, and evaluation of BayLegal’s firm-wide pro bono programs. The position is based in BayLegal’s Central Support office in Oakland and reports to the Pro Bono Director.  See Temporary Covid-19 remote work description below.

Responsibilities

• Learn and assist with the diverse legal needs of underserved and vulnerable communities in the Bay Area;
• Coordinate student and non-attorney (including interpreters) volunteer recruitment, onboarding and retention efforts;
• Respond to volunteer inquiries and coordinate with BayLegal’s regional offices and units regarding volunteer opportunities and needs;
• Maintain database of pro bono program records, data reporting and analysis;
• Prepare cases for placement with pro bono attorneys;
• Develop and streamline processes and procedures;
• Support recruitment and ongoing engagement of pro bono attorneys and other volunteers;
• Assist with the coordination of pro bono legal clinics (see BayLegal website for a description of full range of legal matters and clinics) including assisting with preparing clinic materials, overseeing logistics, and coordinating with volunteers and local staff in preparation and on-site as needed;
• Assist with the coordination of trainings;
• Work closely with BayLegal’s Development & Communications teams to promote BayLegal’s mission and resource development; and
• Engage in other tasks and projects that further the interest of furthering BayLegal’s mission and operations as a non-profit.

About the Successful Candidate

• Cultural humility in working with low‐income clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and limited English proficiency.
• BA/BS educational degree;
• Bilingual ability in Spanish preferred;
• Experience with data entry, database management and reporting (LCRM Salesforce, Microsoft Excel);
• Experience with social media platforms for volunteer engagement and recruitment is a plus;
• Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines;
• Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with ability to be detail-oriented;
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team;
• Sense of humor and adaptability in an ever-changing environment;
• Curious and self-directed with an ability to anticipate what needs to be done; and

Temporary COVID-19 remote work

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, all BayLegal employees are primarily working remotely. While BayLegal has implemented detailed health and safety protocols to minimize risk of exposure and has an evolving plan for reopening our local offices, we anticipate remaining primarily remote throughout much of 2021. All employees are expected to be available to travel to BayLegal offices and services locations as needed and in compliance with public health advisories. Employees are expected to reside in California and must be able to commute to the physical BayLegal base location or service delivery location within the San Francisco Bay Area.

While BayLegal remains primarily remote, all employees are issued BayLegal computers and provided appropriate supplies. BayLegal has implemented and continues to explore additional technologies to make working remotely as efficient and connected as possible.  All employees receive a flat-rate monthly amount to reimburse for work-related use of personal IT equipment, including internet and home. BayLegal is open to providing flexibility regarding work schedules and part-time or full-time employment to the extent feasible for the position.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a diverse, family friendly environment, and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries along with a generous benefits package. BayLegal’s benefits package includes 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and life insurance for employees and up to 40-50% for dependents; long-term disability insurance; stipends for bilingual employees whose language skills are used in the provision of work tasks; student debt repayment program; dependent childcare employer contribution program, and 401k retirement plan following first year.  Paid leave policy includes: sick leave; parental leave; 14 holidays each year and vacation (starting at 13 days and increasing with additional years of employment).

Applications

BayLegal 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, LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, veterans, persons with disabilities, individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply.  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please email the following to our Human Resources Department jobs@baylegal.org  (1) cover letter including response to question below (no page limit), (2) resume, (3) references, and (4) a writing sample. Please reference Pro Bono Coordinator position in the subject of your email.

As part of your cover letter, please address the following:

BayLegal’s clients are low- and very low-income members of our communities. They include LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, the working poor, seniors, people who are limited English proficient, veterans, persons with disabilities, survivors of abuse and exploitation, individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, and people who are experiencing or at risk of homeless, and persons from other underrepresented groups. To ensure our organization is best serving these populations, BayLegal strives to promote an evolving set of behaviors and attitudes amongst our staff, as well as policies that enable us to work effectively in all cross-cultural situations, with clients, with our coworkers, and with the community. We see this as a commitment to enhance the provision of our services to all clients; to raise the level of positive client outcomes; and to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued.

How do you think your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to serve our client base effectively and to contribute to our commitment to humility, inclusion, and diversity? Feel free to think broadly about your response to this question, applying various aspects of your life and personal experiences.