Job Description:

Managing Attorney - California Clean Slate Programs The Access Project, Inc., a startup non-profit legal services provider, is seeking a California-licensed attorney to direct our post-conviction relief programs, including our flagship Rising Scholars program, which serves justice-impacted community college students throughout California.  About The Access ProjectThe Access Project was founded in 2019 to transform the role of the pro bono community in the effort to increase access to justice. We use technology and human-centered design principles to create effective tools to scale legal services.We are a small but growing organization. There will be substantial opportunities for advancement, including the opportunity to be considered for the Executive Director role in 2-3 years. About the PositionThe Managing Attorney for Clean Slate Programs will oversee our burgeoning California clean slate services program. The Managing Attorney will assume responsibility for our established Rising Scholars Clean Slate program, which delivers post-conviction relief to thousands community college students throughout the state, using our proprietary RAP analysis tool and volunteer services platform. The Managing Attorney will collaborate with the Executive Director on developing new avenues for applying our program to scale services and will be The Access Project's representative in coalition-wide efforts to improve post-conviction remedies and access to justice.The student communications coordinator and petition filing clerk will report to the Managing Attorney.The Ideal Candidateis passionate about improving access to justiceis knowledgeable (or eager to learn) about using technology to scale access to justiceis knowledgeable (or eager to learn) about low-code and no-code technology solutionsis knowledgeable (or eager to learn) about human-centered program designis interested in data-grounded policy advocacyhas writing and speaking skills and can adapt communications style for economically, socially, and experientially diverse audiences. You need to be equally adept at chatting with a senior partner at a top-10 law firm, gathering information from a clerk at a county courthouse, arguing before a superior court judge, and empathizing with a person on parole who has been incarcerated for most of their lives.is eager to advance in the legal services field and is looking for opportunities for leadResponsibilitiesManage Rising Scholars Clean Slate Programcoordinate with California Community Colleges to provide clean slate services to justice-impacted students at CCCsorganize and lead Know-Your-Rights and program kickoff events at participating schoolsorganize and lead trainings and workshops for pro bono volunteersreview and correct volunteer work in volunteer portalmanage student declaration program, including directing students' efforts, assigning volunteers, and reviewing declarationsoversee student communications and respond to students' legal questions; supervise student communications coordinatorhold one-to-one virtual meetings with students before petition filingoversee case filing; supervise filing clerkproduce progress and outcome reports for all stakeholdersmanage relationships with DAs, public defenders, and court staffmaintain content on Rising Scholars Clean Slate websiteCollaborate on other California clean slate opportunitiesWith Executive Director, consider other avenues for scaling post-conviction services, includingknow your rights presentations to community partnerstraining sessions with volunteer partnersdistribution of the RAP analysis tool to other legal services organizationsexpansion of existing programs beyond Rising ScholarsRepresent The Access Project in re-entry legal services groupsattend re-entry group meetingstrack and comment on legislationattend andor speak at legal services and tech conferences as requested by the Executive Director Analyze and report on resultstrack and report on client outcomesanalyze data for use in potential legislative advocacy and process implementation recommendationsRequirementsApplicants must be members in good standing of the California bar and must have 2 or more years of experience in litigation. (We will consider experience in law school clinics, internships or externships addressing criminal justice issues, or experience as a paralegal working in criminal law).Applicants may become eligible for hybrid work schedules, but a significant amount of in-office time is required to oversee petition filing. Therefore applicants must be able to commute regularly to The Access Project office in Richmond, California.Applicants must be able to climb stairs as the office is on the second floor of a building without an elevator. Reasonable accommodations will be made as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.Applicants must be licensed drivers. Travel to community colleges all over California is required.BenefitsGenerous PTO and holiday schedulePaid health insurancePaid bar dues and professional liability insuranceFlexible work schedule may be available after orientation periodSignificant opportunities for advancement and exposure in the broader legal services community, such as speaking roles at key conferences and legislative advocacy leadership.Who Should ApplyThe Access Project especially welcomes applications from formerly incarcerated or otherwise system-impacted persons or their family members.