Legal Director

Organization Description

The California Domestic Workers Coalition (CDWC) is a coalition of grassroots domestic worker-led organizations and solidarity partners. We are building a movement in California to demand respect for the majority women of color and immigrant women workforce and their work, value care work and interdependence, and change cultural norms about caregiving and women’s labor. Led by immigrant women workers, we build power and make our rights a reality through legislative advocacy, implementation, and enforcement to hold harmful systems accountable. We invest in collective healing and create more just communities through cultural work and leadership development, and we expand our reach and inspire our movement to grow by creating new grassroots organizing models and waging innovative campaigns.

About the position:

The Legal Director will serve as lead employment and labor law expert and advisor to CDWC on domestic worker enforcement and policy issues. They will demonstrate experience and alignment with CDWC vision and values, including a commitment to economic, racial and gender justice.

A strong candidate for this position will have a proven track record of success in developing policy and workplace protections for low-wage and immigrant workers as well as developing and implementing legal strategies for labor rights compliance and enforcement.

They will be rooted and have experience in movement building organizations, a highly relational, effective communicator - adept at building trust and partnership across lines of race, class, gender, and other identities. They will be deeply rooted in equity and justice, with the belief in the stake domestic workers have in creating a world that centers care and interdependence where all people live, work, and age with dignity and in their full humanity.

Responsibilities

Policy Development & Legislative Advocacy

• Provide sound legislative analysis and recommendations for policy development in state and municipal campaigns, including leading research, tracking legal developments via litigation, administrative and legislative advocacy that impact domestic workers; and monitoring and providing legal analysis for defensive efforts to combat the enactment of policies that adversely impact domestic worker rights.
• Write policies and research briefs that advance CDWC priorities and affirmative legislative employment/labor reforms.
• In collaboration with the CDWC Director, Deputy Director, Campaigns Manager, and lead affiliate organizations, develop and conduct state and municipal campaign strategies and advocacy.
• Develop strategic partnerships and alliances with other legal advocates to lift up the issues of domestic worker rights enforcement and expansion, and represent CDWC in coalitions, conferences and panels.

Legal Advocacy, Rights Implementation and Enforcement

• Lead and manage the development and implementation of CDWC’s legal/administrative advocacy and strategic enforcement agenda, ensuring government oversight and improving implementation and enforcement of domestic worker employment law, such as through impact litigation, development of legal memos and briefings, and working with CDWC Director and Deputy Director to strengthen relationships with the state and local enforcement agencies.
• In collaboration with CDWC’s legal advocate partners, staff, and affiliates, develop and execute a strategic plan in order to litigate wage and hour cases across California, including, but not limited to class actions, Private Attorney General Act lawsuits, and other multi-plaintiff cases, provision of direct services, including representing clients in limited and full legal representation in administrative hearings, and representation of individuals and client groups before the Labor Commissioner, and in state and federal courts in cases involving wage theft.
• Supervise and provide direct service in intake clinics, and on occasion, represent individuals and client groups before the Labor Commissioner, and in state and federal courts in cases involving wage theft;

Capacity Building, Education and Outreach

• Provide legal technical assistance and strengthen strategies and best practices in the field for worker, employer, and legal partners of the Statewide Domestic and Residential Care Worker and Employer Education and Outreach Program, to ensure implementation, compliance, and enforcement of the domestic worker employment law, including support for case referrals, representation, and education and enforcement tools and materials, etc.
• Provide the legal content and ensure legal accuracy for worker and employer “Know Your Rights” printed and digital materials and curricula for the program, to be easily and widely accessible, engaging, and media-friendly.
• Provide trainings to CDWC staff, members, legal advocates, and DLSE deputies & officers and local enforcement agencies about domestic and RCFE worker rights.
• Supervise and support the development of other members of the CDWC staff team and volunteers as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Candidates must be active members of the California State Bar, or licensed in another state and eligible to practice (under Rule 9.45 of the California Rules of Court (Registered Legal Services Attorneys)), and willing to take the California Bar Examination.
• Minimum 7 years of practice experience in civil litigation and/or administrative advocacy, experience in wage and hour law, employment discrimination/harassment, health and safety, workers compensation and experience with low-wage worker, immigrant communities, women, and other communities of color.
• Minimum of 7 years of leading legal and/or policy advocacy efforts with impact at the federal, state and/or local levels, with experience analyzing impact of laws, regulations, and legislative proposals, and strong legal research and writing skills.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work collaboratively on a diverse team of community organizers, member leaders, and advocates in a fast-paced, and rapidly growing organization.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to provide leadership, management and supervision skills.
• Fluency in Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, or other languages commonly spoken by low-wage workers in California.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously with a keen attention to detail and learning mindset.
• Dedication and ability to work flexible hours, including working weekends and significant travel within California

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity as central to our work serving underrepresented communities, and we encourage candidates from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

This position will be open until filled, however, there is a priority deadline of January 8, 2024.