Community Legal Services, Inc. of Philadelphia (CLS) is a non-profit public interest agency providing free civil legal services to low-income Philadelphia residents. As the largest provider of free civil legal services in the Philadelphia area, CLS is both locally and nationally renowned as a premier legal services provider dedicated to ensuring access to justice for all low-income individuals and communities. We provide high quality direct legal representation, engage in systemic policy advocacy with the goal of effectuating broad-based change, and conduct community education and outreach. CLS has ten legal units covering a wide range of civil legal services.

CLS’s Employment Unit, located in our Center City office, seeks a staff attorney. The Employment Unit’s work focuses on eliminating barriers to employment; fighting against worker exploitation; and ensuring workers receive the pay and benefits they are entitled to. This position is for an attorney specializing in removing barriers to employment caused by criminal and child abuse records and combatting the consequences of hyper-criminalization and hyper-surveillance of poor, primarily Black and brown, workers and families.
 

Responsibilities of the position include:

• Direct client representation to clear criminal records through the expungement, sealing, and pardon processes; advocacy with employers regarding clients’ fair hiring rights; and litigation to challenge laws and policies that exclude workers because of their records.
• Representing clients in administrative hearings to remove them from Pennsylvania’s child abuse registry.
• Policy advocacy on the local, state, and national levels to eradicate barriers to employment caused by records.
• Contributing to the community engagement work of the unit via participation in our community-based criminal record clinics and working with community partners on advocacy campaigns.
• Handling cases and projects from the unit’s other areas of work as needed.
   

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum three (3) years of experience.
• Excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills.
• Experience and interest in representing clients in administrative or court hearings.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with diverse populations and advocating for racial and economic justice.
• Experience or interest in policy advocacy, litigation and other forms of impact advocacy.
• Experience or interest in working in partnership with grassroots and community-based organizations.
• Sound professional and legal judgment.
• Excellent organization, time management, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest work.
   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Substantive knowledge and experience with employment law, criminal law, or family defense.
• Ability to speak Spanish or other languages.
• Lived experience with the impact of criminal or child abuse records.
   

To Apply: 

CLS will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position has been filled. However, candidates are highly encouraged to submit their application by Wednesday, January 15, 2025, for consideration for first round interviews. You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at: 

• https://clsphila.org/careers/ OR
• https://clsphiladelphia.applytojob.com/apply/xAoFSk2Zx4/Staff-Attorney-Employment-Unit
   

What to Include in your application: 

Please include a cover letter, resume, three professional references from current or former supervisors (identifying your relationship), and one brief writing sample (10 pages or less).

CLS values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, people with disabilities, people who have experienced poverty or homelessness and people who have had prior contact with the juvenile, criminal, or child welfare systems to apply. 

CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.
 

Compensation: 

This is a full-time position covered by the collective bargaining agreement between CLS and the Philadelphia Legal Services Union N.O.L.S.W./Local 2320/UAW. CLS offers a competitive salary based on experience. The current minimum starting salary is $63,000 for newly admitted attorneys, which increases with relevant years of experience and according to the provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement.
 

Benefits: 

CLS offers a very generous and competitive benefits package including 100% employer paid medical (including gender affirming care), life, and short/long-term disability benefits, a 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution, and generous leave package, including 13 paid holidays and five personal holidays each year.
 

Community Legal Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

CLS, Inc. does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, genetics, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, CLS complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Brenda Marrero.