Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC) seeks applications for a Staff Attorney position in its San Francisco Civic Center office. The position is full-time, regular and exempt. We will be hiring as soon as we have identified the right candidate.



LSPC is 30 years old and advocates for the human rights and empowerment of incarcerated parents, children, family members and people at risk for incarceration. We respond to requests for information, trainings, technical assistance, litigation, community activism and the development of more advocates. Our focus is on women prisoners and their families, and we emphasize that issues of race are central to any discussion of incarceration.



The staff attorney will work with the entire LSPC staff to determine legal direction for the organization. LSPC provides technical assistance to legal services providers and other advocates on a wide range of topics including family law, prisoners' rights and domestic violence. While we do not provide direct legal services, we have a great deal of direct contact with people in prison, family members and members of communities that are deeply impacted by the prison industry.



Job Responsibilities:



The staff attorney will work with our legal team to:

Confirm compliance with State Bar requirements and lead reporting process with co-director
Follow California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) regulation changes and respond to proposed changes
Read and review legal journals for staff dissemination of relevant articles
Respond to requests for technical assistance from legal services agencies around the state
Coordinate response to requests for legal information from all prisoners who write to LSPC
Conduct Family Law workshops/seminars for the women at FCI Dublin, women at Central California Women's Facility, Valley State Prison for Women, California Institution for Women and/or at the men's prisons in California as requested in conjunction with attorneys/staff from qualified legal services projects in the Bay Area.
Provide legal information on child custody, visitation, child support, and other family law issues to prisoners in San Francisco County Jail
Provide legal information/referrals to prisoners, family members, and the general public who contact LSPC by telephone and/or e-mail
Update and keep current all manuals published by LSPC including, but not limited to, Incarcerated Parents Manual; Suing a Local Public Entity; Manual for Grandparent-Relative Caregivers and their Advocates; Divorce Issues; Transportation to Court; A Manual on SSI/SSDI for Prisoners and their Advocates; Fighting for Our Rights: A Toolbox for Family Advocates of California Prisoners; and, Pregnant Women in California Prison and Jails: A Guide for Prisoners and Legal Advocates
Act as the "point person" on any individual lawsuits in which LSPC may be involved; assist in the investigation of clients' claims, interview clients, and facilitate communications between co-counsels, clients, and the public
Network with and write amicus curiae briefs for attorneys and organizations that request them
Train and supervise the legal interns
Work in conjunction with other staff members to determine legal needs and strategies of the entire organization


Minimum Qualifications:

· Two years of relevant legal experience

· Membership in the California Bar

· Working knowledge of California and federal family and prisoner law

· Demonstrated commitment to racial justice

· Excellent legal writing skills

· Ability to work independently and under deadline pressure

· Ability to think conceptually, strategically and tactically

· Ability to work both independently with minimal daily supervision and as a team player

· Interest in prisoner law, restoration of civil rights, parole and legislation



Preference will be given to applicants with personal history with communities disproportionately affected by the prison industry and/or experience with prisoners' rights movement or community organizing.



Salary: DOE and equivalent to the salaries of non-profit law firms. LSPC provides employees with an excellent benefits package that includes health, vision, dental and five weeks vacation annually.



LSPC is an equal opportunity employer that refuses to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage formerly incarcerated people, family members, people of color, women and all qualified people to apply for this position.



To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample and references to:



Karen Shain (karen@prisonerswithchildren.org)

LSPC

1540 Market St., #490

San Francisco, CA 94102



NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!