Description:
Position: BayLegal's San Francisco Economic Justice Practice team seeks an attorney with a strong commitment to the public interest. This position provides the opportunity to address a range of issues facing low-income individuals, with a focus on economic justice and access to public benefits. This position will be based in BayLegal's San Francisco County office. This is a temporary position lasting approximately 6 months.Key Responsibilities:
- Learn and assist with the diverse legal needs of underserved and vulnerable communities in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability, and address social justice.
- Represent clients in a range of public benefits matters, that may include: General Assistance, CalFresh, CalWorks, Supplemental Security income (SSI), Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPl), and Medi-Cal.
- Represent clients in all stages of administrative proceedings related to their public benefits.
- Assist clients with accessing other county, state, and federal benefit programs, as needed.
- Identify and employ impact advocacy strategies to remove barriers to public benefits and employment 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.
- Assist public benefit recipients with legal issues that present a barrier to employment or self-sufficiency, like suspended driver's licenses, collateral consequences of a criminal conviction or unstable housing if needed.
- Develop relationships and engage in collaboration with a range of public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, and community-based organizations to outreach clients ensure integrative services and address barriers facing BayLegal's client community.
- Help provide public benefits and other substantive trainings to BayLegal staff and community partners.
- Work collaboratively with attorneys practicing in BayLegal's other substantive areas.
- Engage in other tasks and projects that further BayLegal's mission.
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.
- Commitment to complying with all California Rules of Professional Conduct, BayLegal funding requirements, and firm standards, policies, and practices.
- Experience with government benefits programs preferred.
- Commitment and desire to work with low-income individuals.
- Humility in working with colleagues and clients, and individuals of all identities, experiences, and perspectives.
- Current proficiency, and ability to improve proficiency, in technological equipment, hardware, and software necessary to perform duties of the position.
- Excellent, writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with 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 an ability to take initiative.
