Staff Attorney II, Transgender Advocacy

Bet Tzedek Legal Services

91d • $85,305 - $104,240

About The Position

For more than 40 years Bet Tzedek has been committed to providing free legal services to those who need them most. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek is seeking a determined, organized, and zealous advocate for a temporary position assisting transgender individuals seeking legal remedy regarding gender-affirming identification and healthcare, discrimination, and/or harassment. Candidates should be able to articulate their passion for assisting people of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, and ages with varying English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities. This position focuses on providing legal services and advocacy to transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in Southern California. The Transgender Rights Project assists individuals in correcting legal name and gender markers for full participation in community with dignity and as fully recognized members of the community. The staff attorney provides advocacy for individuals facing coverage denials for medically necessary gender affirming healthcare.

Requirements

• Active member of California State Bar in good standing. (required)
• Willingness to train and work with volunteer attorneys and students (required)
• Demonstrated commitment to non-profit legal services.
• Minimum three years of experience in LGBTQ+ legal advocacy.
• Comfort in modeling cultural humility and deep understanding of intersectionality within the context of navigating the legal system.
• Experience working with transgender individuals and familiarity with the needs of transgender communities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbal and written) in a clear, judicious, assertive manner.
• Demonstrated competence in proactively identifying, proposing, and implementing solutions to challenges, including competing deadlines and case management issues.
• Demonstrated competence in principles of client-centered, trauma-informed services.
• Demonstrated experience and competency in utilizing volunteers—layperson volunteers and pro bono attorneys.
• Demonstrated competency with case management and administrative responsibilities of an attorney caseload.
• Demonstrated competency in community outreach and legal education efforts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes of potential clients & litigants
• Assist individuals who have experienced denials of gender-affirming medical treatment through a mix of advice and counsel, limited scope services, insurance appeals, and/or representation in California’s Independent Medical Review process.
• Manage the execution of legal name and gender marker change clinics serving pro se litigants.
• Present trainings to prepare pro bono attorneys and volunteers for participation in virtual, in-house, and community-based legal name and gender marker change clinics.
• Prepare matters for pro bono placement, monitor status of placements, and provide technical support to pro bono attorneys.
• Address health-harming legal needs through advocacy utilizing laws mandating coverage for medically necessary gender affirming health care.

Benefits

• A generous number of paid holidays (up to 21 per year), vacation (up to 20, depending on number of years with agency), and sick days (up to 45) annually.
• Personal and floating holidays.
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment.)
• 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.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees