SSI Staff Attorney

Bay Area Legal Aid • Oakland, CA

21d • $83,948 - $138,127 • Hybrid

About The Position

Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal), a nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services to people and families living in poverty throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, seeks an attorney for its Alameda County SSI Practice Team. The role focuses on Social Security disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), while addressing related legal needs of low-income clients. The position is based in BayLegal’s Alameda County office and may require travel throughout Alameda County and the broader BayLegal service area for client meetings, training, and advocacy.

The attorney provides direct legal services and representation in public benefits matters, contributes to broader advocacy addressing systemic barriers, and works with BayLegal colleagues, community partners, agencies, courts, and pro bono partners. The role also includes community education, partnership-building, documenting services and funding deliverables, and other work advancing BayLegal’s nonprofit mission.

This is a hybrid position. Employees are expected to work in person at a designated BayLegal office or community advocacy site at least three days per week, with part-time remote work permitted. Employees must reside in California within commuting distance of their BayLegal base location. The position is primarily sedentary in a temperature-controlled office, with regular in-person court appearances and some travel. It is a union position. The 2026 salary range is $83,948–$138,127, with placement based on years of experience.

BayLegal offers a diverse, family-friendly environment and a benefits package that includes employer-covered insurance, a student debt reimbursement program, dependent childcare contributions, paid professional license fees, a 401(k) plan with employer contribution following the first year, and paid leave.

Requirements

• Member of the California Bar in good standing, or admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for three years under the California State Bar’s Registered Legal Services Attorney Program; candidates who recently passed the California Bar or plan to take it at the next sitting are welcome to apply.
• Commitment to comply with the California Rules of Professional Conduct, BayLegal funding requirements, and firm standards, policies, and practices.
• Humility in working with colleagues, clients, and people of diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives.
• Experience or demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice advocacy.
• Current proficiency with, and ability to improve proficiency in, the technological equipment, hardware, and software needed to perform the job.
• Willingness to work on-site at a BayLegal office at least three days per week and as needed to support clients, team meetings, and training.
• Ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with attention to detail.
• Strong oral advocacy skills and thoughtful, attentive client communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team.
• Curiosity, self-direction, and ability to anticipate what needs to be done.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining a firm grasp of individual project details.
• Proactive problem-solving approach.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing direct legal services to low-income clients.
• Experience representing clients in government benefits programs, especially Social Security disability and SSI benefits.
• A sense of humor.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for the legal needs of underserved and vulnerable communities in Alameda County and the broader Bay Area to reduce homelessness, enhance stability, and advance social justice.
• Maintain an active caseload and provide direct legal services, especially in claims for Social Security disability benefits, SSI, and CAPI, as well as other public benefit programs as needed.
• Represent individuals at all stages of administrative hearings and proceedings related to public benefits claims, from initial applications through federal court.
• Identify related legal issues and barriers and coordinate services with BayLegal colleagues and community partners.
• Develop and engage in broader advocacy strategies to remove public-benefits barriers for client populations, including 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 clients on public benefits and other civil legal issues.
• Build and foster partnerships with government agencies, courts, community-based organizations, and pro bono partners to support integrated services, client outreach, and efforts to address systemic barriers.
• 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.
• Perform other tasks and projects that further BayLegal’s mission and operations.

Benefits

• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and life insurance for employees, with coverage of up to 60% for dependents.
• Student debt reimbursement program.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Wage differentials for multilingual employees whose non-English language skills are regularly used at work and who pass a fluency and/or proficiency test.
• Dependent childcare employer contribution program.
• Employer-paid California Bar license and/or social work license fees.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a BayLegal contribution following the first year.
• Paid leave, including 15 holidays per year, vacation starting at 13 days and increasing with additional years of employment, three employee-selected floating holidays per year, sick leave, and parental leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed