Staff Attorney, Racial Justice - LCCRSF

Status: Exempt, Full-time 

Compensation: $80,000 to $90,000 annually depending on experience

Reports to: Program Director, Racial Justice 

Location: Currently remote, with San Francisco office open as an option. Hybrid remote/office

likely in future.

Are you an attorney who is passionate about racial justice and is interested in litigating and

advocating to dismantle unjust systems? We invite you to consider joining us! 

About You

We are looking for a skilled attorney with excellent written and oral advocacy skills, someone

who is devoted to movement lawyering and dismantling unjust systems, passionate about racial

and economic justice, and committed to working in a collaborative environment. This person

will serve as a leader at the crux of our coordinated impact litigation and campaign advocacy

strategies—taking on an immediate role staffing existing impact litigation matters while also

plugging into advocacy coalitions pushing targeted legislation to address issues related to our

litigation. This position will work closely with an exceptional team that includes a Program

Director and another staff attorney. 

About LCCRSF

As one of the most enduring civil rights institutions on the West Coast, LCCRSF works to

dismantle systems of oppression and racism and to build an equitable and just society. Formed in

1968 to bridge the legal community and the Civil Rights Movement, we’re known for advancing

the rights of people of color, immigrants, refugees, and low-income individuals. We also invest

in legal fellows and support a network of over 1,600 active pro bono attorneys and volunteers.

We are in this work for the long haul. Our goal is to make this work sustainable, to rest as needed

and take care of each other and our communities, so we can be fierce in the face of power

through our core issue areas of Racial Justice, Immigrant Justice, Economic Justice, and

Educational Justice. Learn more at lccrsf.org. 

About the Racial Justice Team

As part of our racial and economic justice work, LCCRSF is drawing on its years of experience

to meet the demands of a moment defined by a post-pandemic landscape, the national reckoning

in response to police brutality and oppressive systems of wealth extraction designed to target

low-income Black and Brown communities. We take an integrated advocacy approach by

combining cutting-edge impact litigation with targeted advocacy campaigns designed to achieve

measurable wins in the fight for racial and economic justice. LCCRSF works in the direction of

movement groups and grassroots allies. Some of our recent litigation and advocacy victories

include: 

 Debt Collective v. Judicial Council of California, a case against the California courts for

running a profit scheme that extracted hundreds of millions of dollars from low- income

Black and Brown Californians for profit; our litigation and advocacy helped galvanize

AB-199, a new law that eliminated more than $1 billion in illegally imposed court debts; 

 Coalition on Homelessness v. City and County of San Francisco, securing a historic

preliminary injunction against San Francisco’s draconian practice of policing homeless

residents who have committed no crime but sleeping in public amidst the City’s massive

affordable housing shortage; 

 Caldwell v. Bad Boys Bail Bonds, winning a decisive appellate ruling invalidating $30+

million dollars in illegal bail debts for the families of arrestees, and declaring that

unscrupulous bail bond companies must honor consumer protection laws; 

 Hundreds of curfew citations dismissed in Sacramento and San Jose in the wake of

George Floyd protests. Filed litigation for people injured by the violent tactics of law

enforcement to prevent future police violence and get recompense for those harmed

in White v. City of Sacramento; and 

 COH v. SFMTA, a California Court of Appeal decision that is the first nationally to

declare that poverty tows the practice of seizing and selling low-income people’s vehicles

just because they cannot afford to pay late parking tickets is unconstitutional. This

litigation victory dovetails with ongoing legislative advocacy in the form of AB-1082, a

bill we are sponsoring to end poverty tows and reform traffic ticket collections. 

By being grounded in community, and listening to our clients and grassroots partners across the

Bay Area, we are able to identify the greatest needs and how our expertise can best be used to fill

critical gaps. We are thinking strategically and creatively about how we can best mobilize pro

bono partners, and innovate nimble responses to the most pressing civil rights issues of our

time.  

Your Work

Impact Litigation (70%) 

Serve as counsel on large impact cases in our current civil rights docket, including legal research,

drafting and reviewing filings and correspondence, discovery, motion practice, trial advocacy,

and appellate advocacy, all under the mentorship of more senior attorneys. Engage with pro bono

law firm partners and co-counsel at other nonprofit institutions in the Bay Area to collaborate on

ongoing litigation matters. 

Help investigate racial and economic justice issues for impact litigation and policy advocacy,

including investigation of cases and strengthening the organization’s ties with community

partners and clients who best understand which issues are top priority and the remedies needed. 

Policy and Advocacy (25%) 

Engage in legislative and administrative advocacy, such as drafting of regulations and legislation,

meetings with client organizations, representation of groups before administrative and legislative

bodies, and technical assistance to policy makers related to LCCRSF’s ongoing litigation. 

External Partnerships and Communication (5%) 

Seek opportunities to engage in public education and media advocacy consistent with our

identified program strategies and in consultation with Communications staff. 

Essential Qualifications 

 1-3 years of post-graduate legal experience with at least some direct experience or

involvement with impact litigation matters; 

 Must have California law license (required); 

 Passionate about racial justice; 

 Experienced in working with/ties to low-income communities of color; 

 Excellent oral and written communication skills and a desire to hone core litigation skills;

and 

 Collaborative team-player who will work cooperatively across a team of people from

diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 

Salary, Benefits, Work location 

This position is full-time, exempt, with a salary range of $80k to 90k depending on experience,

and reports to the Program Director, Racial Justice. Full benefits package includes 100% paid

medical + 80% for dependents, phone and internet reimbursement, wellness bonus, vacation, sick

time, paid holidays, short Fridays, and winter break (office closure during the last week of the

calendar year). 

Our office is based on downtown San Francisco but we have a flexible remote policy that

accommodates remote work the vast majority of the time unless our work calls for in- person

outreach and communication with the clients and communities we serve. We do not yet have a

target date for return to the office, but we expect to offer, at minimum, part-time remote. While

remote, employees may not work outside CA for more than 30 consecutive days at a time.

Employees must be fully vaccinated according to CDC COVID-19 guidelines for in-person

work. 

General working hours are 9am-5pm, M-F. LCCRSF is woman- and BIPOC-led, with 35 staff.

We are flexible, family-friendly, and value health, wellness and balance. We follow ADA

guidelines – reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with different

abilities to perform the essential functions. 

Working Environment and Conditions

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met to

successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this

position, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position, constantly operate a

computer, and must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will

understand. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to

perform the functions. 

To Apply 

Position open until filled, but applicants encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications

will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter; 2) a resume; 3)

contact information for a minimum of three references; and 4) two writing samples, including

ideally at least one motion, brief, or research memorandum. These materials can be sent by email

to: careers@lccrsf.org (w/ “Staff Attorney-Racial Justice” in the subject line). Questions about

the position can also go to that email. 

In your cover letter, in addition to describing your interest in the position and qualifications,

please respond to the following question: What in your background and experience has prepared

you to work for an organization dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice? Feel free to

think broadly about your response, applying professional or personal experiences. 

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area thrives as an inclusive/equal

opportunity employer. People of all backgrounds and walks of life are encouraged to apply.