About VPLC
Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) is an organization dedicated to helping low-income Virginians through advocacy, education, and litigation. Since 1978, we have worked with legal aid programs, community organizations, and private attorneys throughout Virginia to educate and support our fellow advocates and attorneys. Much of the work we do occurs at the legislative level, where VPLC’s advocates work alongside legislators to make sure Virginia’s laws help low-income Virginians.
About the Position
We are seeking either a Policy Specialist or a Staff Attorney to join our Center for Healthy Communities. This new position will be part of a team of attorneys, advocates, policy analysts, and health coverage navigators working in a variety of substantive areas. Some of our Center’s major advocacy accomplishments over the past few years include leading the effort to pass Medicaid expansion, expanding SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) to more than 25,000 additional families, and removing a work requirement that forced thousands of legal immigrants to work at least 10 years before qualifying for Medicaid. Current advocacy efforts include the creation of a public health coverage option for all children in Virginia regardless of immigration status, improvements to the Medically Needy and Home and Community Based Medicaid programs and increased minimum SNAP benefits for the elderly and low-income individuals. This position provides flexibility for the staff member to be innovative in developing ongoing ways to improve public benefits and address systemic inadequacies in Virginia.
We want to hear from candidates with a strong commitment to removing systemic barriers keeping low-income Virginians in the cycle of poverty. More specifically, we’re looking for team members who can develop advocacy strategies, communicate effectively within and outside of the VPLC team, build partnerships, create high-quality written products, and exercise their advocacy skills in areas including policy and training.
Job Responsibilities
Assist local legal aid attorneys around Virginia with their public benefits and/or Medicaid casework which includes advice, research, and training. The staff attorney position may involve co-counseling on systemic advocacy issues or complex legal aid cases. However, VPLC is not a direct services organization and most legal work will be systemic or involve advising on cases rather than providing direct representation. As legally allowed, the policy specialist may also provide direct assistance on public benefit cases or support on complex litigation.
Either position level would involve lobbying on public benefit issues at the Virginia General Assembly and advocating for state and federal regulatory and policy changes that benefit low-income Virginians. Lobbying includes: monitoring legislative proposals, proposing legislation, working directly with senators and delegates on bills, speaking at committee, and working in coalition to build support for laws that benefit low-income families.
Conduct trainings and outreach to legal aids, pro bono attorneys, community-based organizations, and community groups.
Ensure grant deliverables are met under various grants and to prepare all necessary narratives and reports for grant funding.
Co-Chair the Healthcare for all Virginians Coalition and participate in various State and Federal workgroups and coalition calls.
Salary and Benefits
For the Policy Specialist level, the salary for this position ranges from $55,000 to $70,000 annually. For the Staff Attorney level, the salary for this position ranges from $70,000 to $90,000. For both levels, the placement on the range will be based on factors such as years of relevant experience, budget, and internal equity.
We offer an outstanding benefit package which includes:
Generous paid time off every year.
90% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance, for employees and their families
403(b) retirement plan with 6% employer contribution (no required match)
Potentially eligible for student loan repayment assistance
Strong commitment to professional development
Financial assistance with relocation to work in our Richmond office.
Qualifications
Required:
For the Policy Specialist and Staff Attorney level - Prior knowledge of or experience with public benefit policies (Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, SNAP, TANF, unemployment, SSI, and/or SSDI). Candidates with more than five (5) years of experience preferred. Candidates with lobbying experience but who have limited knowledge of public benefits will be considered with a preference for candidates with personal or professional experience with poverty issues.
For the Policy Specialist level - Law degree not required.
For the Staff Attorney level – Admitted to practice law in Virginia with a preference for attorneys with at least five years of experience. If you are not admitted in Virginia, then a minimum of 5 years’ membership in any state bar with the ability to waive in to Virginia’s Bar (https://barexam.virginia.gov/motion/motionoverview.html); admission and in good standing with at least two years of continuous legal practice and ability to be admitted to the state bar pursuant to the Legal Aid Counsel Certificate (https://barexam.virginia.gov/pdf/Rule1A-9.pdf) ; or willingness to sit for and pass the state bar if you have less than the required experience for the waiver or Legal Aid Counsel Certificate.
For the Policy Specialist and Staff Attorney level - Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
For the Policy Specialist and Staff Attorney level – Willingness to work a flexible schedule that may include evening and weekend events. This position requires lobbying during Virginia’s General Assembly which includes working outside standard business hours in January through early March. At times, Virginia may have a special session that requires lobbying at an additional time of year. Virginia’s General Assembly typically has either a 45- or 60-day session depending on the year. To offset these periods of increased workload, VPLC has generous flex time and time off policies.
Preferred:
Experience representing or advocating for families and individuals who have been denied, terminated from, or had reduced essential safety net benefits.
Experience working in or building coalitions.
Prior work with legal services programs.
Prior commitment to serving low-income individuals.
Familiarity with local, state, and/or federal policy in areas related to poverty.
Familiarity with the Virginia legislative process
Legal work experience.
The position is full-time and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
To apply:
All applications should include a cover letter, resume and at least three professional references. In the cover letter, please indicate whether you are applying for the Policy Specialist level or the Staff Attorney level. Please apply by email to [email protected].
Submission deadline: October 15, 2023