Staff Attorney

Description

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

Since 1983, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. (SDVLP), the county’s oldest and most comprehensive pro bono legal services program, has changed the lives of thousands of indigent and other disadvantaged people, by providing equal access to the justice system. SDVLP’s unique service model serves as a bridge between indigent and other disadvantaged people in San Diego County and the volunteer lawyers and others who are willing to donate their time and resources.

San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program is actively recruiting for a full-time Staff Attorney  to provide top-quality, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed legal services to low-income San Diegans in a variety of civil legal matters. The staff attorney hired will initially be assigned to support the HIV/AIDS Legal Services Program and the Education Rights Program, covering for a scheduled leave of absence. This person will be reassigned to another program, funding dependent, after approximately 5 months. The person hired has the opportunity to gain experience and practice in several of SDVLP’s programmatic areas including, family law, domestic violence restraining orders, tenants’ rights, education law, guardianship, vacatur, etc.

Within the HIV/AIDS Legal Services Program, the Staff Attorney assists clients living with HIV/AIDS with a variety of civil legal matters that impact their ability to remain healthy, such as public benefit appeals, Social Security disability hearings, estate planning, and disability discrimination in housing. Within the Education Rights Program, the Staff Attorney advocates for vulnerable foster youth on a variety of education rights matters, such as obtaining assessments, ensuring school compliance with Individualized Education Plans, enforcing school-of-origin rights, and representing students facing disciplinary matters.

The Staff Attorney will work closely with SDVLP’s Pro Bono team and will be responsible for mentoring, training, recruiting, and supervising the work of pro bono attorneys representing SDVLP clients. The Staff Attorney will also perform community outreach and education and supervise the work of non-attorney staff.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Established in 1983, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. (SDVLP) is the oldest and most comprehensive pro bono legal services program in San Diego County.  SDVLP’s mission is to provide equal access to the justice system by serving as a bridge between indigent and other disadvantaged people in San Diego County and the volunteer lawyers who are willing to donate their time and resources.  Our team of talented and passionate employees is collegial, supportive, and committed to providing top-quality legal services to indigent, vulnerable San Diegans.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for:

• Representing clients in HIV-related matters, such as Social Security disability appeals, disability discrimination, and advance health care directives.
• Representing foster youth in educational matters to protect their educational rights.
• Mentoring, training, and supervising pro bono attorneys and law students.
• Recruiting new pro bono attorney volunteers through community outreach and attendance at networking events. 
• Developing and maintaining written training materials for pro bono attorneys.
• Maintaining knowledge of other legal services programs to provide targeted referrals for issues outside the scope of SDVLP programs.
• Training and supervising non-attorney staff. 
• Managing and compiling statistical data and assisting with the drafting of narrative reports to funding sources.
• Engaging in other tasks and projects as needed to further SDVLP’s mission. 

Work Environment:

• This position is a hybrid position requiring ability to work in SDVLP’s main office in downtown San Diego for a minimum of 2-3 days per week.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
• Work hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; minimum 37.50-hour work week.

Salary & Benefits:

• Salary range is $75,000 - $80,000, DOE.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits; ability to participate in 401(K) with employer contribution.
• Sick, vacation, and holiday pay provided. 
• No billable hours requirement. 

SDVLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a member in good standing of the California Bar.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must have excellent mentoring and teaching skills.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to successfully work as part of a team, and with the public, volunteers, court personnel, government agencies, and partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with accuracy and minimal direction.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required by events and deadlines.
• Excellent Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income and disadvantaged people.
• Ability to travel to court hearings and SDVLP’s other offices throughout San Diego County, as necessary. 

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Fluency in written and spoken Spanish, preferred.

Salary : $75,000 - $80,000