Employment Opportunities

Bankruptcy Assistance Program Attorney

Legal Access Alameda (Legal Access) is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to providing pro bono legal services to low-income litigants throughout California. Legal Access staffs the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative (DLAC), which offers free legal services to those impacted by disasters throughout Northern California (Monterey and north). This position is an exempt, full-time position responsible for expanding Legal Access’ existing Bankruptcy program to serve clients throughout California, focusing on rural and underserved areas in Northern California.

Everyone’s jobs have changed significantly with the Covid19 crisis.  The following is revised based on the fact that we are working remotely and have launched new online platforms in response to the crisis. There may be further changes in response to local, state, or federal public health mandates.

Overview:  Legal Access’ Bankruptcy Assistance Program will assist low-income Californians with filing for bankruptcy so they can resolve their debt issues, some of which are directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Legal Access will leverage its current, small bankruptcy program to conduct new outreach and to provide services to a new client base through the networks of the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative.

Bankruptcy can often be an important step for low-income consumers struggling with their finances. For those who are especially low-income, bankruptcy rates are higher and more common. The situation has only been made worse due to COVID-19 with low-income households being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Legal Access’ Bankruptcy Assistance Program will assist low-income Californians with filing for bankruptcy so they can resolve their debt issues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to stabilize their lives. Priority will be given to especially underserved individuals including limited and non-English speakers, racial minorities, seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals from rural areas.

This position will help provide services to low-income clients by designing a program that provides the following services through a panel of volunteer attorneys:

• Advice and counsel regarding consumer debt issues,
• Evaluation of appropriateness of filing for bankruptcy and, where appropriate,
• Assistance with preparing Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition and filing,
• Advice on preparing for hearings, and
• Assistance with post-filing matters as needed.

Key Duties

Community Outreach and Education

1. Working with other team and collaborative staff, design, conduct and coordinate informational legal clinics, and community education presentations, online and in person.
2. Collaborate with partner agencies to reach out to disaster survivors.
3. Work with community services providers throughout Northern California to set up presentations (both remote and in person) on these issues.

Pro Bono Coordination

1. Recruit, train, support, and encourage pro bono attorneys and other volunteers in doing this outreach, including working with local bar associations throughout Northern California to recruit volunteers.
2. Create legal training for recruitment of volunteer attorneys without bankruptcy and consumer law experience to assist pro bono clients at clinics or one-on-one.
3. Create and keep online resources updated and useful for volunteers.
4. Track and monitor pro bono sign ups and activity.
5. Enroll any volunteers who will be under Legal Access professional liability insurance in accordance with all requirements for Legal Access volunteer enrollment process
6. Work with regional partners to deploy volunteers where they are needed, while being mindful of local self-determination issues.
7. Help design and implement clinics and be present to help administer legal services as needed, in person or remotely.
8. Research and implement platforms and tools to enable better legal services delivery remotely.

Reporting

1. Working with Director and other grants staff to prepare all required reporting on the grant funding for this work.

Staff meetings

1. Attend regular staff meetings for disaster legal services project, Legal Access Alameda, and the Alameda County Bar.

Remote service delivery

1. Be fluent in the use of Zoom, Blue Jeans, Box, Slack, and other tech platforms in use during and after the pandemic

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bar Admission in California (must be current and in good standing)
• Commitment to social justice and access to justice for low-income and disadvantaged communities.
• Ability to work with volunteers, exercise sound judgment, take initiative on projects, and juggle multiple activities.
• Sense of humor.

Experience in Bankruptcy and Consumer Law preferred. 

Ability to converse in Spanish or Chinese a plus.

Salary:  $65,000

Medical, dental, and vision benefits provided.

Please submit resume AND COVER LETTER to Christina Wiellette at christina@acbanet.org.