Agency Description
PRC’s mission is to help people affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use, or mental health issues better realize opportunities by providing integrated legal, social, and health services that address the broad range of social risk factors that impact wellness and limit potential.
Job Title: Supervising Attorney – Disability Advocacy (Full-time, Exempt)
General Description:
The Supervising Attorney supervises and trains program staff. The position also provides direct legal representation to homeless and low-income clients living with HIV and/or mental health issues to secure disability-related income (SSDI, SSI, CAPI, etc.) and health insurance benefits (Medi-Cal, Medicare, etc.).
Position Responsibilities
Management
• Assumes responsibility for the program in the absence of the Managing Legal Director.
• Supervises, evaluates, and trains designated staff attorneys in the according to the organizational chart with support from the Managing Legal Director.
• Supervises legal work of the programs.
• Develops, leads, and supervises trainings, outreach events, and meetings.
• Resolves client conflicts and complaints.
• Assumes responsibilities for emergency drop-ins, intakes, hearings, and case reassignments.
• Works with Managing Legal Director and Director of Quality Assurance to ensure the fulfillment of programmatic goals, such as units of service, number of intakes, trainings and community outreach.
Benefits Advocacy
• Assessment: Performs individual assessment of needs related to disability benefits and healthcare access. Helps identify and assist in breaking barriers to benefits, including accessing medical care, health insurance, treatments, and psychiatric and/or psychological evaluations. Works with clients using a Harm Reduction approach.
• Benefits Advocacy: Provides direct legal assistance and representation to clients. Helps clients apply for public benefits (SSI, SSDI, CAPI, etc.), and/or handles other healthcare access and benefits-related issues. Performs intakes and conducts outreach to engage and re-engage clients in the pursuit of disability benefits. Follows claims throughout the application process. Advocates for clients with Social Security Administration, disability analysts, and other governmental or private entities. Files appropriate paperwork and develops/obtains evidence.
• Hearings: Prepares cases for appeal and appears before Administrative Law Judges or other judicial bodies. Files documents for appeals process. Develops/obtains supporting medical evidence. Performs legal research. Writes pre- and post-hearings legal briefs. Prepares clients for testimony. Represents clients at hearings. Cross examines experts. Appeals unfavorable decisions.
• File Management: Creates and maintains confidential client files detailing documents and laws/policies reviewed, correspondence prepared on behalf of the client, and case progress. Updates and maintains client records in case management and billing system.
• Training & Community Engagement: Plans, develops, and presents trainings for staff, consumers, and providers. Participates in community meetings and forums.
• Policy Analysis and Outreach: Identifies and analyzes changes in public benefits and healthcare laws and policies that affect people living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable populations at the local, state and federal levels. Collects and analyzes data, produces and presents reports.
• Special Projects: Assists with special projects as necessary.
Qualifications
• Active member of the CA State Bar.
• At least two (2) years of experience in Social Security law, or four (4) years of full-time legal work experience.
• Advanced skills in one-on-one public benefits advocacy and representation.
• Demonstrated ability in management, supervision, and training.
• Demonstrated ability in addressing escalated client situations.
• Superior skill in database management and file maintenance.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team.
• Advanced knowledge in benefits counseling related to HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, and state and federal disability benefits.
• Ability to be sensitive to and work well with low-income individuals, people with psychiatric disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, people of color, active drug users, people with a history of homelessness or incarceration, and people in the LGBT community.
• Advanced knowledge of mental health, HIV/AIDS, homelessness issues, and state and federal programs related to disability benefits and healthcare access (OA-HIPP, ADAP, SSI, SSDI, Covered California, Medi-Cal, Medicare).
• Knowledge of harm reduction theory and practice as applied to legal services preferred.
• Bilingual and bicultural (Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese or Russian) highly desirable.
Application Procedure:
Submit a cover letter and resume to: PRC, Attn. Chuan Teng, 785 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Please include Job Code: “NLASSA718” in the subject line of your email, when applying.
PRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively seek applications from people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ individuals, and other disabilities, people of color, and people who are bilingual/bicultural.