TRANSACTIONAL STAFF ATTORNEY CAPACITY BUILDING PRACTICE AREA

Position Summary:
TakeRoot Justice’s Capacity Building Practice provides legal advice and assistance to: (i) groups of workers establishing worker-owned cooperative businesses and established worker-owned cooperative businesses in connection with incorporation, governance and other matters; (ii) small businesses in connection with commercial lease review and negotiations; and (iii) grassroots organizations, including nonprofits and unincorporated associations, in connection with incorporation, tax exemption and compliance with corporate, employment, tax and other laws. We provide creative technical assistance and legal solutions as we work toward the equitable control of resources through cooperative and other non-exploitative institutions, with a particular focus on Indigenous, Black and Brown communities that have been historically exploited and marginalized.

TakeRoot seeks applicants for the position of Staff Attorney in our Capacity Building practice, which currently includes one other staff attorney. The new Staff Attorney will collaborate and engage in mutual peer mentorship with that attorney and assist in supervising interns and fellows.

The position offers a unique opportunity to practice in several innovative areas of the law while building relationships with local community organizers, leaders and service providers.

Practice Area Responsibilities:
• Represent start-up worker cooperatives on entity choice, assist in entity formation and draft governance documents;
• Represent existing worker cooperatives on contract, employment, intellectual property and other matters;
• Represent small businesses in commercial lease review and negotiations;
• Represent community-based organizations in entity formation, governance, tax exemption applications and compliance matters;
• Conduct workshops and trainings for community-based organizations and their members; and
• Advocate to legislative bodies and agencies in partnership with community-based organizations and their members regarding issues related to worker cooperatives, other small businesses and nonprofits at the city and state level.

TakeRoot Responsibilities:

As an organization committed to democratic participation and decision-making, all staff:

• Support the growth of TakeRoot on other substantive and administrative projects,
including participating in at least one internal governance committee;
• Cultivate relationships with current and potential funders; and
• Comply with all grant-reporting requirements.

Qualifications/Skills:

Required:

• At least three (3) years of relevant experience;
• Admission to the New York State Bar;
• Demonstrated commitment to grassroots efforts for economic, racial and social justice;
• Strong writing and analytical skills;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations; and
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff in shaping and running the practice.

Strongly Preferred:
• Experience supervising attorneys and/or non-attorneys;
• Fluency in two (2) or more languages, including Spanish; and
• Experience working with social justice and/or community organizing groups.

Timeline and Compensation/Benefits:

The anticipated start date for this position is November 2020, with the possibility of an earlier start date.

A competitive salary with an excellent benefits package is available, with generous vacation, personal and sick time, along with industry leading medical and dental coverage. TakeRoot’s staff attorneys are on a fixed salary scale, and the salary for this position will be determined based on years of relevant experience in accordance with the scale.

This is a non-exempt bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW, Local 2230.

Application instructions: Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter by email to jobs@takerootjustice.org, Attn: Cheryl Walker. Please include “CB Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

TakeRoot Justice is an equal opportunity employer. TakeRoot encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with
disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and people with personal experience with the criminal justice system. We strongly encourage applications from people
with lived experiences in the communities we serve.