Position Summary
Western Center offers a unique opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic attorney to join our health team. This position provides an exciting opportunity to advocate on a variety of health-related poverty law issues throughout the state. The successful candidate will work in each aspect of Western Center’s multipronged advocacy strategy: leading high impact litigation, engaging in policy advocacy, and providing assistance and trainings to local legal services attorneys.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of at least one of the following: Medi-Cal, Covered California, managed care plans, medical debt, health safety net programs, improving delivery of care, racial, ethnic, gender, and age-related health disparities, birthing and pregnancy care, health and food deserts, social determinants of health, oral health, and the intersection of these issues with racial justice. We seek a team member who has experience practicing in diverse forums, thrives in a collegial and dynamic team environment, and is committed to addressing race-based inequities.
This position reports to the Deputy Director and is based in our Los Angeles, Oakland, or Sacramento office. Although our organization currently permits hybrid/remote work, this position will require some travel for events, meetings, court or administrative hearing appearances, and other work-related obligations.
Responsibilities
• Collaborate with the Western Center health team to identify and develop strategies to ensure equitable access to affordable, comprehensive, quality health care for all Californians, especially those who have been disadvantaged by the health care system.
• Identify, initiate, and maintain a caseload of impact litigation related to the health team’s focus areas: advancing universal affordable health coverage for all Californians; eliminating medical debt; promoting a robust state enforcement system to eliminate racial, ethnic, gender, and age-related disparities; and decreasing health deserts in rural and other underserved areas. Work on impact litigation in Western Center’s other subject areas as needed.
• Further the execution of current programmatic work, including litigation, policy and administrative advocacy to ensure access to high quality, affordable, and equitable health care for Californians with low incomes.
• Advance administrative, regulatory, and policy changes at the local, county, state and federal levels on issues impacting the health care needs of low-income Californians.
• Provide expertise, research, and advocacy support through consultation, technical assistance, publications, training, and education, particularly to legal services organizations.
• Work closely with Sacramento-based policy advocates on health-related budget and legislative initiatives.
• Represent Western Center in various coalitions, stakeholder forums, and boards.
• Draft and disseminate reports, legal analyses, and educational materials to our partners.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Some in-state travel, sometimes overnight, is required.
• Some long hours are expected, but the workday schedule is flexible and accommodating.
Qualifications
• A commitment to the mission of Western Center.
• Admitted to practice law in California.
• At least five years of experience as an attorney in California or another state is required. For the Senior Attorney role, at least 9 years of experience is required. Experience representing low-income clients in affirmative lawsuits is preferred.
• Strong litigation skills in any practice area.
• An understanding of and passion for health care, racial justice, and anti-poverty policy.
• Experience working with or coming from historically marginalized communities.
• Prior work at a legal services or a community-based organization is a plus.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to think creatively, be strategic, and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships.
• Ability to work in a team setting and to implement team objectives independently.
Applications accepted until the position is filled, but applications received by March 1, 2024, will receive priority. Please email a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and list of references to [email protected].
To promote social justice and achieve our mission, Western Center is committed to maintaining a diverse staff, creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, and addressing race-based inequities in our work. In your cover letter, please include how you think your personal and/or professional experience or background has prepared you to contribute to these efforts with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.