OPEN POSITIONS

California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public interest law firm established in 1981, based in Sacramento, with satellite offices throughout the state. CRLAF represents farmworkers and other low-wage workers in rural California, and is also a State Bar-funded legal services support center providing training, advocacy and technical assistance to California’s federal legal services programs. Our litigation and policy priority areas include labor, housing, civil rights, sustainable rural communities, health and immigrants’ rights. CRLAF has successfully sponsored or co-sponsored legislation in each of these areas, including the Farm Labor Contractor Act, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), the Employee Housing Act, Field Pesticide Posting requirements and dozens of other statutes. 

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, color, religion, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability, nationality, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We believe everyone has something important to contribute. Respecting individual differences is an integral part of our culture and we endeavor to make our differences work for us to achieve our mission.​

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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT 

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LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE

 

CRLAF is looking for a candidate with experience in state or federal legislative advocacy, labor policy, or litigation experience that is willing to be trained on labor policy by CRLAF’s legislative team.

 

Position: Legislative Advocate

Location: Sacramento Capitol Office

Experience: Minimum 2 years directly relevant legislative, policy, or litigation experience

Start Date: Immediate

 

Duties + Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Executive Director and Deputy Director, the Legislative Advocate works as part of CRLAF’s legislative team to advance the rights of farmworkers and other low-wage workers through legislation and policy advocacy, and building farmworkers’ power in the Capitol, while collaborating with other legal aid organizations on legislative and policy advocacy. This position includes working on CRLAF’s “California Advocacy for Farm Workers” project, which advocates for undocumented farm workers and the rights of farm workers employed in the H-2A visa contract labor program (‘Bracero 2.0’). Responsibilities also include:

 

• Staff any assigned bills sponsored, supported, or opposed by CRLAF

• Draft bill fact sheets, letters of support and opposition, legislative amendments, and other lobbying materials and communications on legislative issues

• Track and analyze impacts of legislation, budget proposals, regulations and other state policies on California farm workers and other low-wage workers

• Make recommendations and help formulate CRLAF’s position on relevant issues

• Prepare and present written and oral testimony before legislative and administrative bodies.

• Help develop ideas for legislation that strengths California’s farmworkers’ rights.

• Support strategic planning to ensure that CRLAF’s legislative agenda furthers the organization’s goals and broader mission.

 

Requirements + Qualifications:

• Understanding of the legislative and budget process in the California Legislature or with relevant policy experience a willingness to be trained in the California legislative process.

• Minimum 2 years of experience in any of the following areas:

  • Labor policy or other policy relevant to farmworkers or other low-wage workers;

  • State or federal legislation or legislative advocacy; or

  • Plaintiff-side litigation representing low-wage workers under California or federal labor, housing, civil rights or immigrants’ rights laws.

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.

• Demonstrated success working both individually and collaborating as part of a team.

• Ability to take initiative and prioritize multiple tasks and time-sensitive assignments.

• Strong work ethic and strict attention to detail, particularly when working in fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

• Law degree, civil rights, community organizing, labor union, farm worker, non-profit organization, or plaintiffs-side law firm experience are also desirable, as is Spanish language proficiency, but not necessary.

 

Hours, Compensation, + Benefits:

• Salary Range: $85,000-$115,000; dependent on experience

• Employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees (with half-paid coverage for dependents)

• Flexible spending accounts benefits

• Employer-sponsored retirement plan with an annual CRLAF contribution

• Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday package

• CRLAF has a 37.5 hour, 5-day work week

 

Application Information:

Please send resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a list of at least three references to Amagda Pérez at aperez@crlaf.org. (Applicants may also provide video or audio links to some of their recent substantive testimony or appearances before the Legislature, administrative agencies or the courts.) For questions, please call (916) 446-7904, ext. 101.

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled.

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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT 

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(3) FULL-TIME SUMMER 2025 LEGAL FELLOWS

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Positions: Three Full-Time Summer Legal Fellows to assist with immigration and/or labor and employment cases

Period: May 1, 2025 - September 16, 2025

Location: Sacramento, California

 

CRLAF seeks three law students with a strong commitment to public interest and social justice to serve as California Bar Foundation Legal Aid Leader Fellows. Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, Fellows will gain practical experience working directly with clients, completing legal research, and preparing briefs to support client’s claims in litigation. Fellows will receive training and assist with community presentations on Know Your Rights and responding to questions on immigration, and labor rights. 

 

Requirements + Qualifications:

The Summer Fellowship is full-time, 37.5 hours per week for 10 weeks. CRLAF offers a flexible summer work schedule to accommodate any personal needs or travel plans.

• Rising 2L or 3L 

• Interest in immigration and/or labor and workers’ rights in California
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the empowerment of immigrant communities

• Experience working with low-income, immigrant, migrant, farmworker, non-English speaking families, and ability to engage people from all backgrounds with both patience and sensitivity when listening to clients’ stories
• Fluency in Spanish or locally spoken indigenous language, preferred but not required
•Ability to work independently, as demonstrated by a positive track record of independent decision-making

• Valid California Driver License, preferred but not required
• Willingness to remain in close communications with the California Bar Foundation about your work

 

Stipend: 

The successful candidate will receive a stipend of $10,000, funded by the California Bar Foundation and ChangeLawyers.

 

Application Information: 

If interested, please email your cover letter, resume, and list of 3 professional references to jobs@crlaf.org. Please address the cover letter to “Hiring Committee” and write your preference for either “Immigration Summer Legal Fellow” or “Litigation Summer Legal Fellow” in the email subject line. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.​​​

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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT ​

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LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR/SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE 

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Position: Legislative Director / Senior Legislative Advocate (full-time, FLSA exempt positions) 

Location: Sacramento, California

Experience: 3-5 Five+ years directly relevant legislative or litigation experience 

Job Categories: Senior Management; Project Director; Legislative Advocacy 

Start Date: Immediate 

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Duties + Responsibilities: Reporting to the Executive Director and Deputy Director, the Legislative Director’s duties include day to day supervision of several lobbyists and advocates, as well as serving as CRLAF’s chief Labor/Judiciary lobbyist. The Legislative Director also conducts our “California Advocacy for Farm Workers” project, which advocates for undocumented farmworkers and the rights of farmworkers employed in the H-2A visa contract labor program (‘Bracero 2.0’). The Senior Advocate’s duties include all of the above responsibilities except for a supervisory role over the legislative unit. 

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Minimum Qualifications: 

• Significant prior experience at the senior staff level in the Legislature or as a registered lobbyist, with a history and track record of developing and successfully shepherding legislation through the legislative process. However, significant plaintiff-side litigation experience representing low-wage workers under California or federal labor, housing, civil rights or immigrants’ rights laws, with a willingness to be trained in the California legislative process, is also qualifying experience for the senior legislative advocacy role (with a track to eventual assumption of the Legislative Director position). 

• Law degree, civil rights, community organizing, labor union, farm worker, non-profit organization, or plaintiff-side law firm experience are also desirable, as is Spanish language proficiency. 

 

Hours, Compensation, + Benefits: 

• Salary Range: $95,000.00 - $145,000.00 Salary/year; dependent on experience

• Employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees (with half-paid coverage for dependents) 

• Flexible spending account benefits 

• Employer-sponsored retirement plan with an annual CRLAF contribution 

• Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday package 

• CRLAF has a 37.5 hour, 5-day work week 

 

Application Information: 

Please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a list of at least three references to Amagda Pérez at aperez@crlaf.org. (Applicants may also wish to provide video or audio links to some of their recent substantive testimony or appearances before the Legislature, administrative agencies or the courts.) For questions, please call (916) 446-7904, ext. 101.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled. ​

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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT​​​​

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STAFF ATTORNEY 

 

CRLAF seeks a Staff Attorney to join its Citizenship + Immigration Project

 

California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF)’s immigration practice provides both full-scope direct representation and limited-scope legal assistance to low-income clients in their affirmative and defensive immigration cases. We represent individuals and families with their affirmative applications for immigration relief, including: family-based visa petitions, U visas, T visas, VAWA, naturalization, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and asylum. We also represent individuals and clients in their removal proceedings, and prepare cases for relief including: asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT, cancellation of removal, bond, and post-conviction relief. We engage in extensive community education throughout Sacramento and the Central Valley to equip immigrants, farmworkers, and the underserved with information about their rights and recent developments in immigration law and policy.

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Position: Immigration Staff Attorney (full-time, exempt position)

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CRLAF is hiring for an Immigration Staff Attorney based in Sacramento, CA to provide legal assistance and representation to individuals in their affirmative applications for immigration relief before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration. CRLAF currently engages a hybrid work model that permits remote work.

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Duties + Responsibilities:

• Provide limited-scope or full-scope services to individuals and families in their applications for immigration relief, including DACA, naturalization, U Visa, T Visa, VAWA, family-based immigration, TPS, and asylum.

• Support and participate in local immigrants’ rights collaboratives and networks, including the Sacramento Family Unity, Education, and Legal (FUEL) Network for Immigrants, the California Afghan Legal Services Project (ALSP), and the Sacramento Coalition for Afghan Empowerment (SCALE).

• Provide training and other technical assistance to local partner organizations, including non-profit agencies, religious groups, schools, and other community-based organizations.

• Conduct culturally competent and community specific “Know Your Rights” presentations and other educational outreach for immigrant communities.

• Represent CRLAF in local coalitions, partnerships, and agencies.

• Ensure entry of timely, accurate, and detailed case data into CRLAF’s case management and reporting systems.

• Assist with administrative and fundraising work of the organization.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the empowerment of immigrant communities.

• Law degree and license to practice law.

• At least two years of experience practicing immigration law.

• Valid California Driver license.

• Fluency in Spanish.

• Experience working with low-income, non-English speaking clients.

• Ability to multitask, prioritize, set, and meet deadlines with timeliness and a high attention to detail.

• Ability to maintain accurate records and competently utilize technology platforms and databases.

• Ability to organize and prioritize essential information and data points to report on the project.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Excellent research, writing, and organizational skills.

• Ability to work in a team-focused and multicultural work environment.

• Ability to work via phone and in-person with a variety of actors, including clients, attorneys, staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and representatives of the government agencies in a professional, amicable and team-oriented manner.

• Experience training or presenting on immigration-related matters and/or practical skills is a plus.

 

Hours, Compensation, + Benefits:

• Salary range: $70,000 to $78,000

• Employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance (with half-paid coverage for dependents)

• Flexible spending account benefits

• Employer-sponsored loan repayment assistance program

• Employer-sponsored retirement plan

• Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday package

• CRLAF has a 37.5 hour work week

 

Application Information:

If interested, please email cover letter, resume, and a list of 3 professional references to jobs@crlaf.org. Please address cover letter to “Hiring Committee” and write “Immigration Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled.

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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT​​​​​

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STAFF ATTORNEY 

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CRLAF seeks a Staff Attorney to join its Removal Defense Project​

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Position: Immigration Staff Attorney - Removal Defense Project (full-time, exempt position)

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California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF)'s Removal Defense Project is hiring for an Immigration Staff Attorney based in Sacramento, CA. The position will provide legal assistance and representation to individuals in their removal proceedings before the Immigration Court. CRLAF currently engages a hybrid work model that permits remote work.

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Duties + Responsibilities:

• Provide consultations, limited-scope, or full-scope services to individuals and families in removal proceedings at the Sacramento or San Francisco Immigration Court.

• Provide consultations, limited-scope, or full-scope services to individuals detained in ICE detention centers in California.

• Support and participate in local immigrants’ rights collaboratives and networks, including the Sacramento Family Unity, Education, and Legal (FUEL) Network for Immigrants and the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (CCIJ).

• Participate in providing pro bono assistance to pro se respondents through the Attorney of the Day program at the Sacramento Immigration Court.

• Provide training and other technical assistance to local partner organizations, including non-profit agencies, religious groups, schools, and other community-based organizations.

• Represent CRLAF in local coalitions, partnerships, and agencies.

• Ensure entry of timely, accurate, and detailed case data into CRLAF’s case management and reporting systems.

• Assist with administrative and fundraising work of the organization.

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Minimum Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the empowerment of immigrant communities.

• Law degree and active license to practice law.

• At least two years of experience practicing immigration law.

• Valid California driver’s license.

• Fluency in Spanish.

• Experience working with low-income, non-English speaking clients.

• Ability to multitask, prioritize, set, and meet deadlines with timeliness and a high attention to detail.

• Ability to maintain accurate records and competently utilize technology platforms and databases.

• Ability to organize and prioritize essential information and data points to report on projects.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Excellent research, writing, and organizational skills.

• Ability to work in a team-focused and multicultural work environment.

• Ability to work via phone and in-person with a variety of actors, including clients, attorneys, staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and representatives of the government agencies in a professional, amicable and team-oriented manner.

• Experience training or presenting on immigration-related matters and/or practical skills is a plus.

 

Hours, Compensation, + Benefits:

• Salary range: $70,000 to $78,000

• Employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance (with half-paid coverage for dependents)

• Flexible spending account benefits

• Employer-sponsored loan repayment assistance program

• Employer-sponsored retirement plan

• Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday package

• CRLAF has a 37.5 hour, 5-day work week

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Application Information:

If interested, please email cover letter, resume, and a list of 3 professional references to jobs@crlaf.org. Please address cover letter to “Hiring Committee” and write “Immigration Staff Attorney - Removal Defense Project” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled.