Unhoused Advocacy Fellow, Health
About The Position
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is seeking a Legal Fellow for its Health Program, focusing on unhoused outreach and legal advocacy. This role will specifically address adult housing insecurity and homelessness, with a focus on older adults. The fellow will conduct outreach in encampments and shelters, build partnerships with organizations supporting unhoused individuals, and provide legal assistance with public benefits, housing applications, RV tow hearings, property claims, small claims matters, and criminal expungement. The position also involves community-based advocacy, coalition building, and policy advocacy related to unhoused individuals. The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region, dedicated to advancing the rights of historically excluded individuals and families.
Requirements
- Current member in good standing with the California State Bar, plan to take the next California Bar Examination, or graduating law student eligible to sit for the upcoming exam and in the process of obtaining a positive moral character determination.
- Prior experience or a general understanding of legal aid services and the communities most impacted.
- A passion for social justice and race equity.
- Able to work sensitively and productively to identify, investigate, and resolve client problems.
- Excellent verbal, interpersonal, research, writing, analytical, interviewing, and organizational skills.
- Able to work independently and as a part of a team.
- Excellent time and caseload management skills; ability to work independently to get your tasks done.
- Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to attend hearings, home visits, and outreach events.
- Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn new technology as needed.
- Awareness of how race and other identities shape our work with communities; commitment to inclusion and belonging.
- Alignment with the mission and values of LFSV.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 or similar, with openness to learning new tools.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual in English and Spanish or Vietnamese
- Interest or passion in community-driven advocacy, policy advocacy, and/or impact litigation
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
Responsibilities
- Engage in outreach designed to educate the unhoused community about their legal rights and to connect them to our legal services.
- Provide legal advocacy and representation to unhoused adults.
- Represent and advise clients on public benefits issues (including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medi-Cal) to help clients maintain or prevent the loss of entitled benefits, as needed.
- Engage in community-based advocacy, coalitions, system reform, pre-litigation, and legislative efforts that concern or impact unhoused clients.
- Assist with client intake, referrals, and administrative tasks such as data entry, as needed.
- Participate in Law Foundation activities, such as program meetings, special events, and fundraisers.
- Assist underserved populations, including communities of color, LGBTQIA+ community, immigrant/refugee communities, individuals living with physical and/or mental health disabilities, unstably housed individuals, people using drugs, and system-impacted individuals in line with the Law Foundation’s Race Equity Inclusion principles.
Benefits
- 19 paid holidays per year
- 3-5 weeks of vacation per year
- 12 days of sick leave per year
- Up to 6 months of parental leave
- Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
- A robust Employee Assistance Program that includes free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents
- An additional monthly stipend for those who are bilingual and utilize their language abilities in the course of their job
- An annual budget for professional development
- Employer paid CA Bar license
- The flexibility to work a hybrid schedule
- An office building that offers a fully equipped gym, outdoor terrace, convenient on-site parking, bike storage, lounge areas, and 24/7 security
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
