SSI Attorney -Limited duration

Bay Area Legal Aid•Oakland, CA

4d•$75,057 - $138,127•Hybrid

About The Position

Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our services aim to prevent homelessness, increase economic stability, protect consumers, expand healthcare access, and ensure safety for domestic violence survivors. We serve diverse populations including the working poor, families, foster youth, seniors, immigrants, veterans, individuals with criminal justice involvement, and people with disabilities. Our community-based approach focuses on protecting legal rights, resolving crises, and removing barriers to stability. BayLegal also engages in broader advocacy and impact litigation to address systemic issues and improve public services. The Alameda County SSI Practice Team at BayLegal is seeking an attorney committed to public interest and social justice. This role focuses on Social Security disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). The position is based in Alameda County, with potential travel within the county and the broader BayLegal service area for client meetings, training, and advocacy. This is a limited-duration position ending on June 30, 2027.

Requirements

Member of CA Bar in good standing or admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for 3 years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program preferred.
Commitment to complying with all California Rules of Professional Conduct, BayLegal funding requirements, and firm standards, policies, and practices.
Humility in working with colleagues, clients, and individuals of all identities, experiences, and perspectives.
Experience or demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy.
Experience providing direct legal services to low-income clients preferred but not required.
Experience representing clients with government benefits programs, especially Social Security disability/SSI benefits preferred but not required.
Current proficiency, and ability to improve proficiency, in technological equipment, hardware and software necessary to perform duties of the position.
Willing to be on-site at BayLegal’s office at least three days per week and as needed to support the needs of clients and for periodic team meetings and training.
Experience and skills maintaining organization of time, managing diverse activities, and meeting critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
Excellent writing, editing, and proof-reading skills, with the ability to be detail oriented.
Strong oral advocacy skills; thoughtful and attentive to client communication.
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team.
Curious and self-directed with the ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
Sense of humor and proactive problem-solver.

Nice To Haves

Member of CA Bar in good standing or admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for 3 years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program.
Experience providing direct legal services to low-income clients.
Experience representing clients with government benefits programs, especially Social Security disability/SSI benefits.

Responsibilities

Advocate for the diverse legal needs of underserved and vulnerable communities in Alameda County and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability, and address social justice.
Maintain an active caseload and provide direct legal services to clients, with a focus on representing clients in obtaining Social Security disability benefits, SSI, and/or CAPI and accessing other county, state, and federal benefit programs, as needed.
Represent individuals in all stages of administrative hearings related to their public benefits claims, from initial applications through federal court.
Identify related legal issues and barriers and help coordinate services with BayLegal colleagues who specialize in those substantive areas and with community partners.
Identify and engage in broader advocacy strategies to remove barriers to public benefits for client populations, including particularly vulnerable groups such as immigrants and refugees, survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, people experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities.
Provide workshops and technical assistance to community partners and client community on public benefits and a broad range of civil legal issues.
Engage with, build and foster broad public-private partnerships, including with governmental agencies, courts, community-based organizations, and pro bono partners to ensure integrated services, client outreach and address systemic barriers facing BayLegal's client community.
Track and document client and project services and funding deliverables in compliance with BayLegal policies and funding requirements and help promote BayLegal's mission and resource development.
Engage in other tasks and projects that further the interest of fostering BayLegal's mission and operations as a non-profit.

Benefits

100% employer covered medical, dental, and life insurance for employees and up to 60% for dependents
BayLegal student debt reimbursement program
Long term disability insurance
Employee assistance program
Wage differentials for multi-lingual employees whose non-English language skills are regularly used in the provision of work tasks and pass a request test of fluency and/or proficiency
Dependent childcare employer contribution program
Employer paid CA Bar license and/or social work license fees
401k retirement plan with BayLegal contribution following first year
15 holidays each year
Vacation (starting at 13 days and increasing with additional years of employment)
3 floating holidays each year
Sick leave
Parental leave