Attorney Public Benefits

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida•Plantation, FL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, Inc. (CCLA) established in 2003 is a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funded, non-profit organization. CCLA provides free civil legal services to low-income and otherwise eligible residents of Broward County and is located in Plantation, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Our mission is to provide equal justice to underserved communities through quality and innovative free civil legal aid. CCLA provides legal advocacy for individuals in our community, helping thousands of economically disadvantaged residents to gain greater access to justice and much-needed legal assistance to remove barriers to a healthy and stable life. CCLA provides legal assistance in the areas of Family Law & Victims of Crime, Economic Advocacy & Community Health (public benefits), and Senior Law for people age 60 and older. At CCLA, we provide quality civil legal representation and equal access to justice, regardless of their income. CCLA’s vision is a community where everyone has the legal resources to thrive. CCLA is currently seeking a hardworking, compassionate Attorney for our Public Benefits/EACH Unit. The Attorney will provide clients with legal assistance regarding public benefit related issues. Focuses primarily on SSDI/SSI, Reemployment Assistance, SNAP, and TANF cases and healthcare benefits.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to the Florida Bar in good standing.
Capable of acting with substantial degree of independence and responsibility in this professional capacity.
Flexible, effective, written and oral communication skills.
Ability to multitask, organize, detail-oriented, prioritize, and manage a diverse case load.
Must have the ability to work efficiently and independently with supervision.
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
Professional demeanor and client-oriented focus.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Due to funder requirements, all applicants must pass a background check before employment begins.

Nice To Haves

Bi-lingual English/Spanish or English/Haitian Creole (spoken and written) preferred.
Prior public benefit experience, particularly with SSDI/SSI or reemployment assistance is a plus.
Experience or demonstrated interest in working with people with disabilities and/or lower socioeconomic status preferred.

Responsibilities

Responsible for substantial compliance with the CCLA Program Priority Plan within their areas of specialization and consonant with the Legal Services Corporation guidelines.
In carrying out legal work, responsible for all phases of case work, interviewing clients and witnesses, discovery, investigations, negotiations, legal research, hearings and appeals.
Responsible for supervising legal interns and paralegals who have been assigned to cases within their practice areas.
Attends unit meetings, complies with all program and unit forms and directives, completes monthly case reports, report to the unit on development in their area of expertise and train the paralegals and legal interns assigned to work in their areas.
Conducts client interviews to gather information, investigates fact situations, gathers and evaluates evidence, witnesses, drafts letters, emails, memoranda, pleadings, briefs, assists with applications and appeals, completes forms, reviews agency notices, reviews medical records or other client documents, and performs legal research.
Advises and represents clients in SSDI/SSI cases, including representing clients at hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), in Appeals Council appeals, and potentially in Federal Court as applicable.
Advises and represents clients in reemployment assistance cases, including representing clients at administrative hearings before referees and in appeals to the RAAC.
Advises and represents clients in SNAP/TANF cases, including representing clients in administrative hearings with DCF.
Advise and represent clients in healthcare related cases, including Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace and other denials of healthcare or services.
Frequent communication with clients and outside agencies; in person, on the phone, and via email.
Working closely, as part of a team with numerous attorneys and paralegals.
Returns client’s calls/emails in a timely manner, maintain records, case notes, and daily timekeeping in CCLAs case management system.
Performs community outreach events in person and/or virtually, as well as, on social media and conduct educational training for staff, clients, and community providers, in accordance with CCLA’s outreach policy, and as needed.
Keeps track of and meets deadlines and hearing dates.
Compliant with program and grant requirements.
Performs all other duties as assigned and/or requested by Management, Supervisors, or as required by grant(s).

Benefits

Here at CCLA we offer our employees an outstanding and generous benefits package, which includes medical, vision, dental (100% employer paid for individual coverage), life, short-term, long-term disability insurance (100% employer paid coverage), supplemental insurance, and a 403(b) plan (tax-sheltered annuity plan) with an employer contribution.
CCLA pays attorney’s Florida bar dues, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits, and attorneys have the opportunity to apply for student loan payment assistance.
Additionally, CCLA offers substantial discounts on gym memberships, parks, travel, pet insurance, and more, contributing to our employees' overall well-being.
CCLA is very proud of our work-life balance by giving our employees a substantial paid time off package which includes, vacation, sick leave and over 12 holidays a year.
At CCLA we offer our employees (non-probationary) a more flexible work schedule by temporarily working a hybrid schedule 2 days in the office and 3 days working remotely.

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