BayLegal seeks an attorney with a strong commitment to the public interest and social justice advocacy to join our San Francisco County Regional Office. The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis has made civil legal services ever more critical to help individuals and families avoid homelessness and to provide opportunities for stability and self-sufficiency. This position provides the opportunity to address a range of issues facing low-income individuals, with a focus on economic justice, access to public benefits and removing barriers to employment and self-sufficiency for public benefits recipients.
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 is a temporary position and is expected to last 1 year.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Learn and assist with the diverse legal needs of underserved and vulnerable communities;
Help to reduce homelessness, enhance economic and housing stability, and promote social justice;
Assist public benefits 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;
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 systematic 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;
Develop relationships and collaborate with community partners, including governmental agencies, and community-based organizations;
Provide public benefits and other substantive trainings to BayLegal staff and community partners;
Work collaboratively with attorneys practicing in BayLegal’s other substantive areas; and
Engage in other tasks and projects that further BayLegal's mission.
Health & Safety and Hybrid Work Environment: BayLegal is committed to the health and safety of our staff, clients, and community. Being accessible to our client communities is integral to our mission and commitment as a direct services community-based law firm. BayLegal has implemented detailed health and safety protocols to minimize risk of exposure to Covid-19 and has an evolving plan to continue to increase in-person services and activities in our offices and community-based advocacy sites. Currently, most BayLegal employees work a hybrid model including set on-site and in-person work and working from home on a part-time basis. All employees are expected to reside in California and at a distance allowing them to commute to their physical BayLegal base location and service delivery locations as needed during the standard work week and in compliance with public health advisories.
Compensation and Benefits: We offer a diverse, family friendly environment, and compensation based on competitive public interest salaries along with medical and dental benefits, paid holidays, and sick leave. Compensation is based on experience and competitive public interest salaries. The estimated annual salary range is 74,500 - $93,000 (placement in range determined primarily by years of related experience).
A commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity, as well as humility when working with clients and colleagues at the intersection of multiple identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigration status, religion, physical and mental disability, and/or limited English proficiency;
Must have received or be willing to receive and maintain up to date COVID-19 vaccination (including eligible boosters) by date of hire to be considered. Proof of vaccination required;
Passion for and desire to work with low-income individuals;
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. Candidates who have recently passed the CA Bar or graduated and will be taking the bar exam at the next sitting are welcome to apply;
Experience with government benefits programs preferred;
Excellent communication, writing and public speaking skills;
Strong community outreach and training skills;
Demonstrated experience and skills working in collaborative work environment; and
Curious and self-directed with an ability to take initiative.
BayLegal thrives on our diversity, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourage women, LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, veterans, individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, persons with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups to apply. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact BayLegal’s Human Resources Manager (510) 250-5225.
BayLegal will begin reviewing applications upon receipt and continue until the position is filled. Please submit (1) cover letter including response to question below (no page limit), (2) resume, (3) references, and (4) writing sample through BayLegal’s career application portal.
As part of your cover letter, please address the following:
BayLegal’s clients are low-income and very low-income members of our communities. They include LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) and QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, the working poor, seniors, people who are limited English proficient, veterans, persons with disabilities, survivors of abuse and exploitation, individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, and people who are experiencing or at risk of homeless, and persons from other underrepresented groups. To ensure our organization is best serving these populations, BayLegal strives to promote an evolving set of behaviors and attitudes amongst our staff, as well as policies that enable us to work effectively across cultures, with clients, with our coworkers, and with the community. We see this as a commitment to enhance the provision of our services to all clients; to raise the level of positive client outcomes; and to create an inclusive and respectful workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued.
How do you think your experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to serve our diverse client base effectively, work effectively with colleagues from different backgrounds than your own, and to contribute to our commitment to humility, inclusion, and diversity? Feel free to think broadly about your response to this question, applying various aspects of your life and personal experiences.