JUNTA DIRECTIVA
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public interest law firm established in 1981, based in Sacramento, with satellite offices throughout the state. CRLAF represents farmworkers and other low-wage workers in rural California, and is also a State Bar-funded legal services support center providing training, advocacy and technical assistance to California’s federal legal services programs. Our litigation and policy priority areas include labor, housing, civil rights, sustainable rural communities, health and immigrants’ rights. CRLAF has successfully sponsored or co-sponsored legislation in each of these areas, including the Farm Labor Contractor Act, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), the Employee Housing Act, Field Pesticide Posting requirements and dozens of other statutes.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, color, religion, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability, nationality, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We believe everyone has something important to contribute. Respecting individual differences is an integral part of our culture and we endeavor to make our differences work for us to achieve our mission.
FULL-TIME SUMMER LEGAL FELLOWS FOR IMMIGRATION AND WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Position: Full-Time Summer Legal Fellows to assist with immigration and/or labor and employment cases
Period: Approximately from May 1, 2026 to September 16, 2026
Location: Sacramento, California
About Position:
CRLAF seeks law students with a strong commitment to public interest and social justice to serve as California Bar Foundation Legal Aid Leader Fellows. Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, Fellows will gain practical experience working directly with clients, completing legal research, preparing briefs to support client’s claims in litigation, and preparing documents for review by USCIS and/or the immigration court. Fellows will receive training and may assist with community presentations on Know Your Rights and responding to questions on immigration and labor rights.
Fellows can pick between working with the Litigation Unit and Immigration Unit.
Requirements and Qualifications:
The Summer Fellowship is full-time, 37.5 hours per week for 10 weeks. CRLAF offers a flexible summer work schedule to accommodate any personal needs or travel plans.
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Rising 2L or 3L
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Interest in immigration and/or labor and workers’ rights in California
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Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the empowerment of immigrant communities
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Experience working with low-income, immigrant, migrant, farmworker, non-English speaking families, and ability to engage people from all backgrounds with both patience and sensitivity when listening to clients’ stories
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Fluency in Spanish or locally spoken indigenous language, preferred but not required
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Ability to work independently, as demonstrated by a positive track record of independent decision-making
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Valid California Driver License, preferred but not required
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Willingness to remain in close communications with the California Bar Foundation about your work
Stipend:
The successful candidate will receive a stipend of $10,000, funded by the California Bar Foundation.
Application Information:
If interested, please email your cover letter, resume, and list of 3 professional references to jobs@crlaf.org. Please address the cover letter to “Hiring Committee” and write your preference for either “Immigration Summer Legal Fellow” or “Litigation Summer Legal Fellow” in the email subject line. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR/SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE
Position: Legislative Director / Senior Legislative Advocate (full-time, FLSA exempt positions)
Location: Sacramento, California
Experience: 3-5 Five+ years directly relevant legislative or litigation experience
Job Categories: Senior Management; Project Director; Legislative Advocacy
Start Date: Immediate
Duties + Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Executive Director and Deputy Director, the Legislative Director’s duties include day to day supervision of several lobbyists and advocates, as well as serving as CRLAF’s chief Labor/Judiciary lobbyist. The Legislative Director also conducts our “California Advocacy for Farm Workers” project, which advocates for undocumented farmworkers and the rights of farmworkers employed in the H-2A visa contract labor program (‘Bracero 2.0’). The Senior Advocate’s duties include all of the above responsibilities except for a supervisory role over the legislative unit.
Minimum Qualifications:
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Significant prior experience at the senior staff level in the Legislature or as a registered lobbyist, with a history and track record of developing and successfully shepherding legislation through the legislative process. However, significant plaintiff-side litigation experience representing low-wage workers under California or federal labor, housing, civil rights or immigrants’ rights laws, with a willingness to be trained in the California legislative process, is also qualifying experience for the senior legislative advocacy role (with a track to eventual assumption of the Legislative Director position).
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Law degree, civil rights, community organizing, labor union, farm worker, non-profit organization, or plaintiff-side law firm experience are also desirable, as is Spanish language proficiency.
Hours, Compensation, + Benefits:
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Salary Range: $95,000.00 - $145,000.00 Salary/year; dependent on experience
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Employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees (with half-paid coverage for dependents)
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Flexible spending account benefits
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Employer-sponsored retirement plan with an annual CRLAF contribution
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Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday package
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CRLAF has a 37.5 hour, 5-day work week
Application Information:
Please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and a list of at least three references to Amagda Pérez at aperez@crlaf.org. (Applicants may also wish to provide video or audio links to some of their recent substantive testimony or appearances before the Legislature, administrative agencies or the courts.) For questions, please call (916) 446-7904, ext. 101. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position is open until filled.