Port Trucking Legal Fellow
The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) is seeking a qualified attorney to work on the Campaign for Clean and Safe Ports as the Port Trucking Legal Fellow.
Founded in 1993, LAANE is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to building a new
economy for all. Combining in-depth research, innovative public policy, and the organizing
of broad alliances, LAANE promotes a new economic approach aimed at creating good jobs, thriving communities and a healthy environment. With an impressive track record of
successful living wage campaigns, community benefits agreements, environmental policy
and local hiring efforts, LAANE is at the forefront of the nation's most dynamic progressive
movement.
LAANE's Campaign for Clean and Safe Ports is a groundbreaking effort to bring justice to the 10,000 Port Truck Drivers at hundreds of trucking companies who drive goods in and out of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The campaign is focused on the issue of misclassification of the vast majority of drivers as independent contractors. In the past two years, the campaign has been able to establish legal precedent of misclassification by State or Federal agencies and courts at over a dozen leading companies, leading to some major companies reclassifying and changing their working conditions. The Port Trucking Legal Fellow will report to the Port Campaign Director, with support from private attorneys experienced in the industry as well as labor and community partners.
Duties
The Port Trucking Legal Fellow will formalize LAANE's robust legal and enforcement program, scaling it up to address the industry-wide needs of this project. The Port Trucking Legal Fellow's work will be focused in the following areas:
- Coordinate with the rest of the campaign team to establish a legal and organizing clinic program for port truck drivers. This program will establish regular know-your-rights sessions on workers' rights as employees, on the role of various state and federal agencies, and on how to file a claim with DLSE, EDD and other agencies.
- Support and represent drivers at hearings, audits and appeals of local, state and federal administrative and enforcement agencies to help pursue these cases, and to establish precedents of misclassification at the hundreds of port trucking companies in Southern California. Train worker advocates to support filings and claims.
- Develop and pursue individual and/or class action wage and hour litigation against port trucking firms that misclassify their workers. Coordinate with other members of the California Bar to obtain trustworthy and skilled counsel for drivers at important misclassified trucking firms.
- Provide or coordinate with local law firms and legal non-profits to establish legal representation for drivers with LAANE-originated cases that go to court, arbitration or appeal.
- Establish relationships with other firms litigating on misclassification issues in Southern California (or at Southern California Ports), and coordinate legal strategies to best serve the goal of justice for port truck drivers through reclassification and establishment of good working conditions as employees.
- Work with a team to develop new and innovative strategies to address misclassification and wage theft in the port trucking industry.
Qualifications
We seek an attorney licensed to practice in the State of California with a minimum of two years as an attorney in the area of employment law. The optimal candidate has extensive experience working with low-wage workers, complex legal and financial issues including misclassification. Experience working as part of a team and with community organizations and union organizing is highly valuable. Fluency in Spanish is highly valuable.
Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience. Generous benefits provided.
To apply, please e-mail a cover letter, résumé, and three references to: skaoosji@laane.org with the Subject Heading: Ports Campaign Attorney.
Click here for more information on Campaign for Clean and Safe Ports.
We are an affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. We work to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforce zero tolerance policies against discrimination and sexual harassment. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.