Description:
BayLegal's Alameda County SSI Practice Team seeks an attorney with a strong commitment to the public interest and social justice advocacy. This position provides the opportunity to address a range of issues facing low-income individuals, with a focus on Social Security disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). This position is based in our Alameda County office and may require travel throughout the county as necessary to best serve our clients. As a member of BayLegal's regional practice, there may be travel within BayLegal's broader service area for purposes of meeting with clients and as necessary for training and advocacy. This position will end on June 30, 2027.Key Responsibilities:
- Advocate for the diverse legal needs of undeserved and vulnerable communities in Alameda County and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability, and address social justice.
- Maintain an active caseload and provide direct legal services to clients, with a focus on representing clients in obtaining Social Security disability benefits, SSI, and/or CAPI and accessing other county, state, and federal benefit programs, as needed.
- Represent individuals in all stages of administrative hearings related to their public benefits claims, from initial applications through federal court.
- Identify related legal issues and barriers and help coordinate services with BayLegal colleagues who specialize in those substantive areas and with community partners.
- Identify and engage in broader advocacy strategies to remove barriers to public benefits for client populations, including particularly vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, people experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities.
- Provide workshops and technical assistance to community partners and client community on public benefits and a broad range of civil legal issues.
- Engage with, build and foster broad public-private partnerships, including with governmental agencies, courts, community-based organizations, and pro bono partners to ensure integrated services, client outreach and address systemic barriers facing BayLegal's client community.
- Track and document client and project services and funding deliverables in compliance with BayLegal policies and funding requirements and help promote BayLegal's mission and resource development.
- Engage in other tasks and projects that further the interest of fostering BayLegal's mission and operations as a non-profit.
Required Qualifications:
- Member of CA Bar in good standing or admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for 3 years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program preferred.
- Commitment to complying with all California Rules of Professional Conduct, BayLegal funding requirements, and firm standards, policies, and practices.
- Humility in working with colleagues, clients, and individuals of all identities, experiences, and perspectives.
- Experience or demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy.
- Experience providing direct legal services to low-income clients preferred but not required.
- Experience representing clients with government benefits programs, especially Social Security disability/SSI benefits preferred but not required.
- Current proficiency, and ability to improve proficiency, in technological equipment, hardware and software necessary to perform duties of the position.
- Willing to be on-site at BayLegal's office at least three days per week and as needed to support the needs of clients and for periodic team meetings and training.
- Experience and skills maintaining organization of time, managing diverse activities, and meeting critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with the ability to be detail oriented.
- Strong oral advocacy skills; thoughtful and attentive to client communication.
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team.
- Curious and self-directed with the ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
- Sense of humor and proactive problem-solver.
