About Centro Legal de la Raza
What is Centro Legal de la Raza?
Centro Legal de la Raza is a legal services and advocacy organisation based in Oakland, California. "Founded in 1969, Centro Legal de la Raza’s mission is to protect and advance the rights of low-income, immigrant, Latinx, Black, and communities of color." It works "through bilingual legal services, education, and advocacy" to expand access to justice for thousands of people across the Bay Area, and it grounds that work "in three core pillars: leadership, empowerment, and equity." Its 2022–23 annual report counts 115 staff as of September 2023, and its job postings describe work across Northern and Central California.
What does the work involve?
The organisation runs several practices side by side. Immigrants’ Rights covers "detained and non-detained removal defense", asylum applications, family-based visa petitions, U visas, DACA, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, adjustment of status and naturalization, together with policy advocacy and litigation over detention conditions. Tenants’ Rights offers "eviction defense, drop-in legal clinics, affirmative litigation, policy advocacy, and administrative hearings before rent boards" for tenants across Alameda and Contra Costa counties; it is part of the Alameda County Housing Secure collaborative and co-hosts the Shriver eviction settlement clinic at the Hayward Hall of Justice on Wednesdays. Workers’ Rights serves low-wage immigrant workers who face "wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and employer retaliation", whatever their immigration status.
Beyond individual cases, its annual report says it has represented "thousands of clients and class members in over 50 lawsuits" and that clients and communities "have recovered over $16 million in judgments and settlements". Two programmes build the next generation of lawyers: the Youth Law Academy, "a three-year program for Oakland high school students", and the Diversity Legal Pipeline, which starts from the fact that "Black and Latino Californians make up nearly 45% of the state’s population—but just 7% of the state bar."
How does the four-day week work?
Its job postings of 26 September 2026 state the schedule as policy: "Centro Legal operates on a four-day, 32-hour workweek. The specific workdays may vary depending on the department or program’s operational needs." Time off is tied to that week: "Vacation amounts are based on Centro Legal’s four-day, 32-hour workweek."
Two earlier postings, dated 15 July 2026 and still open, describe it differently: "4 Day Workweek Pilot: during the pilot Centro’s operating hours are Monday - Thursday, 9am-5pm." They add that Centro Legal "is currently engaged in collective bargaining", so "certain benefits, including time-off policies, are subject to change based on ongoing negotiations." The newer wording drops the word pilot, but the organisation has not published the arrangement elsewhere, so read each posting for the current terms.
Time off, pay and benefits
The September postings set out the package. "Vacation accrual is based on length of service: 0–2 years: 10 days per year; 2–4 years: 12 days per year; over 4 years: 14 days per year." Employees also receive "2 wellness days per calendar year and 12 sick days per year", and the organisation "observes 9 paid holidays throughout the year" plus "a Winter Holiday closure from December 24 through January 1."
Health cover is generous: "100% employer-paid Kaiser medical coverage for employees and 50% coverage for dependents, spouses, and partners", with dental, vision, long term disability and life insurance, a Health Care FSA, a Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, pet insurance and an Employee Assistance Program. Postings state their pay: the Paralegal or Legal Advocate role lists "$31.39-$34.56 per hour", as do the two coordinator roles at their own hourly ranges, while the Staff Attorney role carries an annual salary range.
Who it suits
The postings read as a hybrid office-and-courtroom job: "Hybrid working environment, including regular in-person attendance at events", with "standard business hours with occasional evenings required to support clinics, hearings, and community events." Roles on the board have included staff attorneys, paralegals and legal advocates, and programme coordinators; some coordinator posts are one-year assignments "with efforts to secure continued funding", and several roles sit in the staff bargaining unit. It suits lawyers, advocates and programme staff who want immigration, housing or workers’ rights work in the East Bay and a shorter working week, and who are comfortable with a mission-driven, grant-funded employer.