POSITION: LEGAL AID
YOUTH JUSTICE COALITION (YJC)
OVERVIEW
The Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) is working to build a youth, family, and formerly and currently incarcerated people’s movement to challenge America’s addiction to incarceration and race, gender and class discrimination in Los Angeles County’s, California’s and the nation’s juvenile and criminal injustice systems.
The YJC’s goal is to dismantle policies and institutions that have ensured the massive lock-up and deportation of people of color, increasing law enforcement violence and militarization, violation of youth and communities’ Constitutional and human rights, the construction of a vicious school-to-jail track, and the build-up of the world’s largest network of jails and prisons. We use transformative justice and community intervention/peacebuilding, FREE LA High School, know your rights, participatory defense, and police and court monitoring to “starve the beast” – promoting safety in our schools, homes and neighborhoods without relying on punishment and suppression, preventing system contact, and pulling people out of the system. We use direct action organizing, advocacy, political education, and activist arts to agitate, expose, and pressure the people in charge in order to upset power and bring about change.
For more information, visit: www.youthjusticela.org
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Legal Aid is responsible for helping Community members prepare for expungements, pardons and sealing youth records. Their duties include preparing legal clinic coordination, having a one on one intake consultation with members, preparing all documents needed for members and a database of all expungements.
Responsibilities will include:
- Do expungements, pardons, sealing youth records and commutations ● Preparing court support files when needed for our clients.
- Communicate with community members, gathering necessary documents and information to help them in their case.
- Organize and file all legal documents in a safe and confidential manner. ● Legal Assistants typically work to provide administrative support to the Legal Coordinator.
- They will oversee various clerical tasks, including making copies, sending emails, maintaining appointment schedules, processing members intake and organizing filing systems.
- Maintain legal clinic database
- Maintain and update the I5 material updated
- Attend monthly participatory defense meetings
- facilitate (expungement, pardon, commutation) training
ABOUT THE PERSON
The position requires a person* who has strong fundraising experience, relationships with funders and a commitment to the work of the Youth Justice Coalition. This person must have excellent interpersonal skills and who communicates well and enjoys building relationships with youth, YJC staff, Youth Organizers and the larger community. Must be able to maintain boundaries with youth, youth organizers and staff so that individuals can be held accountable as well as to maintain the safety and integrity of the organization.
Skills and Experience
- Computer skills.
- A minimum experience of two years in a paralegal role
- Research skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Organization skills.
*Formerly incarcerated, system impacted, BIPoC, LGBTQ+,people with disabilities and people with community, union and/or youth organizing experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
COMPENSATION
Classification: Payroll
Expected Hours of Work: 20
Weekly Compensation: $28-$30 per hour
Period of Employment: 7 months (*with possible extension if both parties agree)
Benefits: Retirement, vacation
Evaluation: At the end of the first 6 months. Annual performance evaluations to follow.
TIMELINE AND PROCESS
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, until position is filled.
Please send cover letter, resume and two references to:
Inquiries welcome before January 31st, 2024. To apply, send a cover letter, resume and two references to mariac@youth4justice.org with the subject line “Application: YJC – Legal Aid”.