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Position Summary

The staff attorney will be expected to maintain a caseload, which may include: Interviewing prospective clients; analyzing their legal problems; rendering legal advice; negotiation with opposing parties/agencies; preparing and submitting documents for clients; representing clients in various phases of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) application/appeal process for disability benefits; maintaining a large caseload; attending community meetings; developing positive relationships with client communities; finding solutions to broader client problems through 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 and maintaining a caseload.

• Representing clients in all phases of the SSI/SSDI-disability-benefit application, appeal, and administrative hearing process, including research, drafting pleadings and briefs, hearings, and appeals.

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

• Developing positive relationships with the client community.

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

• Developing positive relationships with the client community.

• Developing positive, professional relationships with administrative agency personnel.

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

• Assisting in the training and supervision of advocates, 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, when directed by a supervisor, to provide holistic services.

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

• Compliance with all program and grant requirements.

• Other duties as may be assigned.

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:

• 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

• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish preferred

• Member of the Federal Bar

Salary and Benefits:

The Staff Attorney position is a salaried position with a salary range of $75,000 - $120,500. The starting salary is $83,000. 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.

Hybrid Work Environment:

This position is a completely in-person position. Although Legal Aid Society of San Diego (“LASSD”) has adopted a hybrid work environment in which most staff are required to work in the office part of the week and permitted to work remotely for the remainder of the week, the job responsibilities of this position are not conductive to remote work. All employees are issued LASSD computers and provided with appropriate supplies to perform their work. LASSD has implemented and continues to explore additional technologies to make our working environment as efficient and connected as possible. All employees must be available to travel to LASSD offices and service locations throughout San Diego County as needed and in compliance with public health advisories. Applicants must reside in or near San Diego County or plan to relocate in or near the County prior to their start date and must be able to commute to the physical Legal Aid Society of San Diego office locations or service delivery locations within San Diego County. LASSD’s normal business hours are 9am-5pm, but we are open to providing flexible work schedules to the extent feasible for the position. LASSD reserves the right to change these policies at any time.