Staff Attorney (Health)
Description:
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley advances the rights of historically excluded individuals
and families across Santa Clara County through legal services, strategic advocacy, and
educational outreach. We serve over 10,000 individuals and families each year through our
Housing Program, Children & Youth Program, and Health Program. Our attorneys, social
workers, and advocates use legal advocacy as a tool for social change by crafting inventive
solutions to the legal issues facing low-income people in our region.
With a staff of 90 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay
region of the Bay Area. Our work is collaborative and meaningful and includes plenty of
opportunities for professional growth. As a staff, we actively engage in discussions about
race, equity, and inclusion, and are actively working towards a Black, Indigenous, People of
Color (BIPOC)-centered legal services practice that incorporates community and movement
lawyering.
Our Health Program provides free legal advice and representation to individuals living in
Santa Clara County who identify as having mental health, developmental disabilities and/or
HIV/AIDS. We listen to, advise, and advocate for our clients to ensure their voices are heard
and their rights are protected.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
The Law Foundation seeks to hire a Supervising Attorney to partner with the Directing
Attorney and other Supervising Attorney to lead the Health Program. Key responsibilities
include overseeing the management of direct services client caseloads, impact litigation, and
advocacy. This role supervises a diverse team of lawyers and professional staff to build cases,
represent clients in hearings and trials, draft dispositive motions and provide technical
assistance, training, and outreach to mental health providers, consumers, and community
members.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Management/Supervision:
Develop program direction, strategy, and manage relationships and workflow.
Serve as the direct supervisor for up to ten attorneys and professional staff. Contribute to
recruiting strategy and practices to fill open positions on the team.
Implement internal operational policies and procedures.
Advance a learning culture by facilitating project debriefs and providing consistent and
detailed performance feedback. Celebrate successes and help team members manage
setbacks.
Facilitate staff engagement, teamwork, collaboration, goal setting, and skills development.
Advance the Law Foundation’s race, equity, and inclusion (REI) goals and values.
Contribute regularly to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and
celebrates differences.
Work effectively with other departments within the Law Foundation.
Participate in Law Foundation activities, such as special events and other fundraisers.
Advocacy:
Ensure that community lawyering and advocacy is the focal point of the Health Program’s
work.
Lead civil rights, health equity, and regulatory work. Litigate cases under the relevant state
and federal laws.
Lead direct legal services work including Benefits, civil commitment hearings, and public
health advocacy.
Advocate for and represent persons living with mental health, developmental disabilities, and
other chronic health issues associated with poverty.
Oversee projects and activities related to monitoring mental health facilities for legal
violations.
Cultivate new and diverse allies and coalition partners in support of program goals. Center
social justice in all collaborative work.
Lead trainings, education, and outreach about patients’ rights and legal issues confronted by
historically marginalized communities.
WHO YOU ARE
Deeply committed to, and passionate about, the vision and mission of the Law Foundation.
Have active California Bar Membership, or are otherwise eligible to practice law in California
Have experience litigating a full case, including building the litigation as well as settlement
and negotiation.
Have experienced the full range of pre-trial work including filing dispositive motions and
discovery (trial experience not needed)
Have 3-5 years of pre-litigation and administrative advocacy experience and/or 3-5 years of
public interest or similar advocacy experience.
Have strong emotional intelligence and cultural competency and experience leading,
coaching, mentoring a diverse team, and confronting inequitable work norms.
Have an understanding of public benefits, estate planning, employment, and consumer law.
Have knowledge of relevant state and federal constitutional and civil rights laws, and
experience working with the Social Security and health agencies (preferred).
Connected to, and experience working with diverse populations including communities of
color, multi-ethnic communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, trans individuals, individuals
living with HIV/AIDS and/or mental health disabilities, persons experiencing homelessness
and/or other chronic health conditions correlated with poverty, persons actively using drugs,
and individuals currently or formerly involved in the criminal legal system.
Able to develop and conduct effective oral presentations.
Able to manage a litigation docket effectively and lead a litigation team.
Able to negotiate solutions to problems between clients and other parties. Able to analyze,
write and present ideas, advocacy goals, and legal concepts.
Able to work sensitively and productively to identify, investigate and resolve client problems.
Passionate and able to thoughtfully contribute to conversations and work regarding civil
rights, social justice, and race equity.
Excellent verbal, interpersonal, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills.
Able to work independently and effectively work as a part of a team.
Have a valid driver’s license with a good driving record, or other transportation to attend
hearings, home visits, and outreach presentations.
Are bilingual in English and Spanish or Vietnamese (preferred).
Are skilled in the use of the Microsoft Office Suite.
Able and willing to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.
Physical Requirements: Frequent use of computer keyboard and other office equipment. Able
to access home and institutional environments with smoke or other potentially sensitive
qualities.
WHAT WE OFFER
The salary scale for this position is $103,000 – 120,000, depending on experience.
Excellent benefits are provided including:
19 paid holidays per year
3-5 weeks of vacation per year
12 days of sick leave per year
Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
A robust Employee Assistance Program that includes free/discounted mental health therapy
and wellness services for employees and their dependents
A 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions
A sabbatical after 5 years of employment
An annual budget for professional development
An additional monthly stipend for those who are bilingual and utilize their language abilities in
the course of their job
Remote work:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employees are currently working remotely for the foreseeable
future, subject to some exceptions.
We have also implemented rigorous health and safety protocols to minimize risk of exposure
for staff who occasionally need, or want, to work from the San Jose office.
All employees are issued Law Foundation computers and provided appropriate supplies to
work from home.
We are open to providing flexibility regarding work schedules and locations to the extent
feasible for each position.
More information regarding the Law Foundation is available here: www.lawfoundation.org
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
The Law Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. We
strongly encourage people of color, women, people living with disabilities, older people, and
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to apply. It is the policy of the Law Foundation
to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment
opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry,
religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical
condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other
protected status. The Law Foundation will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all
applicable laws and regulations.
Candidates from historically excluded communities including from different racial, ethnic,
cultural and linguistic backgrounds, persons living with disabilities, and members of the
LGBTQIA+ community encouraged to apply.
To Apply:
HOW TO APPLY
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Please submit the following items via email to jobs@lawfoundation.org: (1) Your resume and (2) A cover letter that explains your interest in the position and The Law Foundation, and also addresses this question: To best serve our clients and our community, the Law Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How has your personal background or professional experiences prepared you to contribute to, and advocate for, social justice, race equity, and diversity within the Law Foundation and for the communities we serve? HOW TO APPLY Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Please submit the following items via email to jobs@lawfoundation.org: (1) Your resume and (2) A cover letter that explains your interest in the position and The Law Foundation, and also addresses this question: To best serve our clients and our community, the Law Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How has your personal background or professional experiences prepared you to contribute to, and advocate for, social justice, race equity, and diversity within the Law Foundation and for the communities we serve?Information
Submission Deadline:
July 6, 2022
Organization Information:
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
4 North Second Street | Suite 1300
San Jose, CA
95113
United States
See map: Google Maps
Organization URL: