SSI Staff Attorney

Description

Position Summary

Demonstrated capacity to maintain a large caseload, which may include: Interviewing prospective clients; analyzing their legal problems; rendering legal advice; negotiation with opposing parties and agencies; preparing and submitting documents for clients; representing clients in various phases of litigation; attending community meetings; developing positive relationships with client communities; developing complex litigation; finding solutions to broader client problems through litigation; policy development or other strategies.

About the Organization

Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD), the largest poverty law firm serving San Diego County since 1953, strengthens our communities by redressing our clients’ legal problems, empowering our clients to access and effectively participate within the legal, governmental, and social systems and encouraging self-empowerment in the fight against poverty and injustice. LASSD continues to be a proud, committed, and compassionate group of people dedicated to providing equal access to justice for San Diegans through aggressive, quality legal services. #justicebeginshere

Essential Functions:

• Interviewing prospective clients; determining program eligibility; rendering legal advice; preparation of legal documents; developing a caseload

• Representing clients in all phases of administrative hearings or court litigation, including research, drafting pleadings and briefs, trial, and appeal

• Handling an increasingly complex caseload

• Attending community meetings, community education events, and community workshops

• Giving presentations and workshops on Legal Aid services and Social Security Disability programs

• Developing positive relationships with the client community

• Providing in-person legal assistance at outreach locations within San Diego County on one to two days per week

• Assisting in the training and supervision of advocates, support staff, law students, and volunteers, as appropriate

• Developing creative methods, litigious and non-litigious, for dealing with recurring client problems

• Collaborating with other teams and outside organizations to provide holistic services

• Staying up to date on substantive developments regarding the substantive practice area

• Compliance with all program and grant requirements

• Other duties as may be assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Admitted and in good standing with the California State Bar

• J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school

• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work independently as well as support team efforts, and to strategize and plan so as to timely and consistently meet grant deliverables and reporting requirements

• Must have reliable transportation

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish preferred

• Member of the Federal Bar

• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people

• Ability to work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds

• Knowledge and/or experience with Social Security Disability benefits

Pay and Benefits:

The Staff Attorney position is a salaried position with a pay range of $75,000 to $112,500. The starting annual salary is $75,000. In addition, there is a bilingual pay increase of 2% for passing an oral test and 2% for passing a written test for threshold languages other than English.

LASSD offers a generous benefits package, a 35-hour workweek, paid vacation leave and sick leave and 100% employer-paid medical premium, 50% employer-paid premium for dependents under LASSD health plan, as well as dental, vision, and life benefits. Staff also have the option to participate in a 403(b)-retirement plan and dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA). LASSD has its own law school loan repayment program and is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

LASSD is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decision making, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.