Temporary Probate Attorney

Open Door Legal • San Francisco, CA

1d

About The Position

Open Door Legal is hiring a temporary attorney for its Probate Law Team to help families and elders address probate and related legal matters that can threaten homeownership, housing stability, and community ties. The team assists clients with estate planning, probate, trust administration, conservatorships, and elder abuse restraining orders in San Francisco. This is a fast-paced role for an organized, empathetic, and adaptable attorney with substantive probate court knowledge who wants to help expand access to civil legal representation.

The attorney will provide legal advice and representation, manage a caseload, conduct intake and case triage, and help clients understand their rights and legal options. The role includes representing clients in San Francisco Superior Court, identifying and referring matters outside the team's scope, working with pro bono partners and volunteers, and building relationships with community organizations and referral partners. The position reports to the Associate Director of Legal Operations and works closely with the Probate Paralegal.

This is a temporary position of approximately six months, part-time and hourly, with remote or hybrid work. Starting compensation is $40.14–$53.61 per hour ($83,500–$111,500 annual equivalent), based on experience. The ideal start date is as soon as possible.

Requirements

• At least two years of relevant professional experience.
• Membership in good standing with the State Bar of California or a license in good standing with another state bar; applicants without a license are encouraged to apply to volunteer.
• Knowledge of California civil law and Superior Court civil procedure.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to perform legal work in a fast-paced, high-volume practice.
• Enthusiasm for self-learning and professional development.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with attention to detail.
• Comfort learning and using technology and case management systems; the organization uses Salesforce, Dropbox, and Google Suite.
• Demonstrated cultural humility and sensitivity to barriers low-income San Franciscans face when accessing the justice system.
• Demonstrated understanding of effective trauma-informed advocacy for clients in crisis.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to translate and interpret legal information between English and Spanish or Cantonese without assistance; this may qualify for a slight compensation increase.
• Experience practicing in San Francisco Probate Court.
• Experience working with low-income and vulnerable populations.
• Experience in a high-volume, direct-service legal aid or similar environment.
• Having lived for a significant period in San Francisco, particularly with a connection to the Bayview/Hunters Point, Excelsior, Sunset, Western Addition, Tenderloin, or Mission neighborhoods.

Responsibilities

• Advance the mission of universal access to civil legal aid and ensure people with viable probate or elder law matters receive appropriate help, including advice and representation.
• Help clients understand their rights and navigate trust administration, estate planning, conservatorship, and elder abuse matters, with emphasis on protecting older clients and helping people remain in their homes and communities.
• Manage a full caseload as team needs require, opening and closing cases efficiently.
• Conduct intake and triage by gathering facts, assessing case-acceptance criteria, and deciding whether to open a case or refer it elsewhere.
• Obtain Associate Director of Legal Operations approval for conservatorship cases before opening a case or finalizing case strategy.
• Identify clients' additional needs and make internal and external legal and wraparound service referrals, including referrals to established partners.
• Communicate clearly with clients about their cases, strategy, the scope of ODL's legal work, and expectations; communicate when expectations cannot be met and identify in advance when the legal plan may not meet client goals.
• Provide culturally responsive service that accounts for clients' socioeconomic circumstances, age-related considerations, disabilities, and other barriers to service.
• Represent clients competently in San Francisco Superior Court in trust administration, estate planning, conservatorship, and elder abuse restraining order matters.
• Develop and maintain expertise in trust administration; drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives; conservatorships of the person; and elder abuse restraining orders.
• Recognize heir and beneficiary disputes and trust administration litigation, including statutory contest deadlines, and route matters to a staff attorney or arrange referral or placement with panel or pro bono attorneys.
• Work with pro bono partners and volunteers on assigned cases, providing training and supervision as needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with nonprofits, advocacy groups, and referral partners to support clients and team goals.
• Provide sensitive, trauma-informed support to low-income clients and skillfully navigate difficult or tense situations.
• Demonstrate teamwork, grit, care, passion, and dynamism.

Benefits

• Flexible work hours.
• Financial investment in individual professional development, which may include mentorship, coaching, conferences, workshops, and other learning opportunities.
• A fun, hard-working office with technology solutions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed