Clinical Supervising Attorney

Santa Clara University•Santa Clara, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center (KGACLC) is a clinical program of Santa Clara University School of Law with a dual mission: educating law students to be life-long social justice advocates and providing legal services for the low-income community. KGACLC educates law students in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards by serving individuals and communities in need with competence, conscience, and compassion through pro bono legal representation and education. Law students work under the supervision of experienced attorneys to provide free legal services in areas such as consumer protection, workers’ rights, immigration, and unhoused advocacy. Their service delivery model includes community education and outreach, advice clinics, and full-scope and limited-scope representation cases, including court and administrative hearings. Faculty and staff also lead collaborative efforts to increase access to the legal system for low-income individuals and communities and participate in media appearances, presentations, and training events. KGACLC is located in San Jose, California, serving primarily low-income residents of Santa Clara County. The Law Center seeks a Clinical Supervising Attorney to lead its unhoused advocacy work, focusing on the decriminalization of homelessness. This role will lead and supervise the legal and advocacy work of the Unhoused Advocacy Practice (UAP), which assists people experiencing homelessness facing legal barriers to housing (e.g., fines, fees, record clearance, infractions, license suspensions) and engages in community advocacy and education. This is a new project, and the UAP's focus areas may evolve. The Attorney will also collaborate to develop and teach its classroom component, working in partnership with the Santa Clara University Unhoused Initiative (UI). The overarching goal is to reduce barriers to housing through legal services and advocacy centered on the intersection of homelessness and the criminal legal system.

Requirements

Member of the State Bar of California in good standing.
A minimum of 2 to 4 years of progressively responsible legal experience working in criminal law or in a practice serving people experiencing homelessness or similarly situated populations; with a willingness to learn more.
Understanding of the social justice issues related to poverty law and equity.
Ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse, multicultural environment.
Demonstrated potential for successful UAP program growth, oversight, and supervision of volunteer attorneys and law students in a clinical legal setting.
A deep appreciation for the ability to work with those experiencing homelessness and to contribute to meaningful change that supports individuals in their journey toward stability.
Excellent case management, legal research, and legal writing skills.
Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to the criminalization of homelessness, with demonstrated analytical skills, specific to navigating the legal system and identifying creative, positive, holistic solutions to legal issues that people experiencing homelessness may face.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and communicate effectively within a diverse multicultural environment that includes clients, students, faculty and staff, community members, volunteers, and other KGACLC and UI stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines under pressure, and maintain keen attention to detail and follow-through for effective program management and leadership.
Familiarity with data and program reporting grant compliance, and grant applications.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
Possess a positive attitude, sense of humor, and flexibility.
Collaborative team-player but can take initiative, work independently, exercise good judgment, and make decisions based on established procedures.
Appreciation for and understanding of KGACLC and the UI’s mission and goals.
Respectful of all people regardless of socioeconomic background, race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender or gender identity.
Computer proficiency (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and willingness to learn and adapt to new technology including other software, cloud-based collaboration, and database systems.
Requires ability to travel independently to various locations within Santa Clara County (mileage is reimbursed).
Flexible work hours, ability to work some evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of the homelessness crisis in Santa Clara County strongly preferred.
Spanish or Vietnamese proficiency preferred, other languages including ASL, welcome.

Responsibilities

Program Management and Oversight: Lead the program, providing strategic guidance to maintain a robust UAP that significantly expands legal services for people experiencing homelessness and service learning opportunities for law students. Manage and implement internal systems, procedures, and processes related to case handling, legal clinics, community education, volunteer and pro bono recruitment/deployment, program evaluation, and grant reporting. Create and implement initiatives that address the legal needs of those experiencing homelessness. Collect and analyze data and program success stories to demonstrate outcomes.
Direct Representation and Client Services: Provide direct legal representation to people experiencing homelessness in matters impeding their transition into housing, including criminal infractions, fines and fees, record clearance, driver's license suspensions, administrative proceedings for return of property, and similar issues. Areas of practice may change or expand. Conduct intakes and consultations with prospective clients. Comply with data and program reporting requirements, participate in partner agency, grantee, and County meetings, and assist with grant applications. Work collaboratively with other clinical faculty and Law Center staff.
Supervision and Mentorship: Supervise UAP law students in all aspects of their legal work, including interviewing clients, legal research, editing written work, and hearing preparation, witness preparation, and court appearances. Teach a 1-2 unit course each semester focused on practical skills and substantive law for client counseling and representation. Provide constructive, timely, and specific feedback to law students. Mentor clinical law students to develop their professional commitment, responsibility, and identity. Provide feedback and evaluation. Train and mentor undergraduate student participants in areas like client intake, interviewing, community education, and administrative tasks.
Community Education and Outreach: Deepen engagement with legal and homeless service providers in Santa Clara County, incorporating community input, building a referral network, and fostering collaboration with UAP. Conduct trainings, community education, know your rights sessions, and outreach. Coordinate and lead "pop-up" clinics each semester for on-site, community-based, same-day services. Collaborate with stakeholders to design and manage community clinics, including volunteer deployment. Implement a training protocol for UAP volunteers covering cultural competency, language access, ethics, and economic barriers facing those experiencing homelessness.
Other Duties as Assigned: Perform other similar or related duties consistent with the job description to advance the work of the UAP and office.