Elder Justice Law Fellow
About The Position
For over 50 years, Bet Tzedek Legal Services has provided high-quality, free legal services to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents. Key among Bet Tzedek’s initiatives is its elder justice work to provide legal advocacy on matters that improve the economic and housing stability of low-income community members. Bet Tzedek seeks an Elder Law Fellow to join the agency’s Seniors, Dependent and Caregiver Direct Services team. The law fellowship will be a two-year program. Bet Tzedek’s Senior, Dependent and Caregiver Services team has, for years, served as the only team of attorneys in Los Angeles County dedicated to the protection of dependent adults and seniors through the use of legal processes such as advance planning, probate, elder abuse prevention and intervention tools, Medi-Cal/IHSS benefits, defending against unnecessary probate conservatorship, and seeking probate conservatorship when necessary to prevent abuse and neglect. This ground-breaking team has pioneered efforts such as establishing and modeling a legal services estate planning practice, developing and launching an Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse Restraining Order Clinic, collaborating with special education schools, providing wrap-around services to parents of older adult children living with developmental disabilities, assisting caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's, dementia and traumatic brain injury, and the development of the award-winning and nationally recognized Self-Help Conservatorship Clinic. Bet Tzedek seeks an elder law fellow to support the team’s direct services, elder law advocacy, and outreach. This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services’ hybrid/remote workplace designation. While the primary workplace is Bet Tzedek’s offices, at the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be permitted to work remotely or may be required to work in other locations depending on workload/business obligations. Candidates must be located in the Southern California region and able to commute if needed.
Requirements
- Recently licensed, or provisionally licensed, law graduates, who are within three-years post-law school (required).
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to Bet Tzedek’s mission of equal justice for all and Bet Tzedek’s core values of leadership, community-based advocacy, and innovation (required);
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (required); and
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment (required).
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency with NetDocuments or other web-based document management system (preferred);
- Proficiency with case management systems (LegalServer) (preferred);
- Previous experience in non-profit and/or government environment (preferred);
Responsibilities
- Provide victim/client-centered, trauma-informed legal services through multiple service delivery models, including screening and legal assessment, advice and counsel, brief service, self-help services, and direct representation to older/dependent adults in the areas of elder abuse, probate conservatorship, defense of conservatorship, public benefits, decedents’ estates, and estate planning;
- Engage in outreach/intake to community at specified sites and provide technical assistance to community partners;
- Collaborate with other teams and programs within Bet Tzedek;
- Train and engage with volunteers and pro-bono attorneys for effective placement of matters;
- Participate in weekly case review meetings and support team grant deliverables;
- Effective case management, data entry, and compliance with agency policies;
- Other duties may be assigned.
Benefits
- A generous number of paid holidays vacation depending on number of years with agency), and sick days annually.
- Personal and floating holidays.
- Compensatory time for exempt employees.
- Various paid leaves.
- Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
- Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
- Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
- Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
- Employer-contributed profit-sharing plan.
- Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
- Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
