Staff Attorney – Family Law, Domestic Violence & Conservatorship

Location: San Bernardino, California (multiple office and clinic locations throughout San Bernardino and Riverside Counties)

Salary: $75,000–$90,000 annually

Classification: Full-time · Exempt

Work Arrangement: Hybrid — in-person required for client home visits, field appointments, court appearances, and team support; some remote work available when offsite work does not require an in-person presence

Reports to: Coordinating Attorney

Job Summary

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) has an immediate, full-time opening for a Staff Attorney focusing on family law, domestic violence, Guardianship and conservatorship matters. Working alongside LASSB's attorneys and advocates, the Staff Attorney will provide legal representation to low-income individuals and families facing significant legal challenges that affect their safety, stability, and well-being.

This position primarily supports Shriver-related family law services and includes representation in matters such as domestic violence restraining orders, custody and visitation disputes, conservatorships, and related family law proceedings. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged populations and experience working with individuals and families experiencing crisis, trauma, disability, mental illness, or other significant life challenges.

About LASSB

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 to provide civil legal services to the indigent and needy. Since its formation, LASSB has continually offered free legal services to protect the rights of low-income people and to assist them in remedying problems that affect their daily lives. We provide free civil legal services throughout the vast counties of San Bernardino and Riverside. Our organization advocates for the rights of low-income people, and we believe the right team with a powerful vision can change how society contributes to their success.

What is the Shriver Program?

The Shriver Program helps low-income individuals and families access legal representation in important family law matters. Through this work, LASSB assists clients with issues affecting their safety and family stability, including domestic violence restraining orders, custody and visitation disputes, and related family law proceedings.

This position combines courtroom advocacy, direct client representation, and community-focused legal services. The attorney will work closely with clients facing significant personal and legal challenges and will have the opportunity to help expand access to justice for some of our community's most vulnerable residents.

Benefits

• Health care coverage
• Life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan

Minimum Qualifications

• Active member of the State Bar of California in good standing
• Strong written, verbal, and interviewing skills
• Patient, flexible, and kind
• Works well in a team
• Ability to independently manage a caseload

Highly Desirable

• Experience with family law litigation
• Experience with the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act or similar access-to-justice programs
• Experience representing survivors of domestic violence
• Experience litigating custody, visitation, and support matters
• Experience with probate or limited conservatorships
• Courtroom, evidentiary hearing, settlement conference, or trial experience
• Familiarity with trauma-informed representation
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience serving low-income or vulnerable populations
• Commitment to public interest law and equal access to justice

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide full-scope legal representation in family law, domestic violence, and conservatorship matters
• Represent clients at hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and trials
• Prepare pleadings, motions, declarations, and other court filings
• Conduct client intake interviews, case assessments, and legal consultations
• Provide legal advice and advocacy through Shriver and related family law services
• Collaborate with courts, community organizations, social service providers, and other stakeholders
• Assist with developing and strengthening family law and conservatorship services at LASSB
• Maintain accurate case records and support grant reporting requirements
• Participate in outreach, community education, and clinic-based services

Supervision

This position is supervised by the Coordinating Attorney.

Work Arrangement

This is a hybrid position. The role requires regular in-person work, including field-based client home visits and other community-based appointments, in-person court and administrative hearing appearances, and being physically present to support and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team. When work does not require an in-person presence, a hybrid schedule with some remote work may be available. Because client home visits and team support are essential functions of this role, the successful candidate must be able to reliably work in person and in the field as scheduled and as client and program needs require. Reliable transportation for local travel is required. Some evening and weekend work may be necessary, and we aim to modify schedules to accommodate these needs.

Working Conditions

This position requires working with individuals during times of extreme stress and instability, providing culturally sensitive and empathetic services. It also involves traveling to various neighborhoods and meeting clients in diverse settings, such as their homes, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels, shelters, court, and other community-based locations. Local travel between LASSB offices, clinic locations, and community-based settings is required, and reliable transportation is needed.

Physical Requirements

This position requires sitting, standing, walking, and occasional lifting of office and case materials weighing up to approximately 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.

Compensation

Salary: $75,000–$90,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

This salary range represents LASSB's good-faith estimate of the compensation reasonably expected to be offered for this position, in compliance with California law. Starting salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations. Consistent with California law, LASSB does not seek or consider an applicant's salary history in making employment decisions.

How to Apply / Who We Encourage to Apply

If you meet many of the qualifications in this job description, we encourage you to apply and to explain in your cover letter why your experience makes you a good fit for the position. We understand that strong candidates might self-select out of the process if they do not meet every qualification, which can disproportionately affect individuals from historically marginalized backgrounds. Our strength lies in the diversity of our team, and a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally diverse staff enables us to best serve our community. We look forward to receiving your application.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino seeks to fill all positions with individuals who share our values, including our commitment to diversity. We encourage all interested individuals to apply, especially people of color; women; individuals from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; and those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary, as well as anyone belonging to any other federal- or state-protected category.

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, reproductive health decision-making, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, California, or local law. We believe in equal employment opportunity for all and are committed to non-discrimination on any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of any required background check and verification of eligibility to work in the United States, consistent with applicable law. Applicants who require reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process are encouraged to contact LASSB so that appropriate accommodations can be provided.