General Description
The Staff Attorney provides legal representation to homeless and low-income clients living with HIV and/or mental health issues to secure disability income and health insurance benefits.
Position Responsibilities
- Assessment: Performs individual needs assessments related to disability-related benefits and healthcare access. Helps identify and assist in breaking barriers to benefits, including accessing medical care, health insurance, treatments, and psychiatric and/or psychological evaluations. Works with clients using a Harm Reduction approach.
- Benefits Advocacy: Provides direct legal assistance and representation to clients, focusing on serving S.F.’s homeless population. Helps clients apply for public benefits (General Assistance, SSI, SSDI, CAPI), and/or handles other healthcare access and benefits-related issues. Performs off-site intakes at shelters, navigation centers, and other locations. Conducts outreach to engage and re-engage clients in the pursuit of disability benefits. Follows claims throughout the application process. Advocates for clients with the Social Security Administration, disability analysts, and other governmental or private entities. Files appropriate paperwork and develop/obtains evidence.
- Hearings: Prepares cases for appeal and appears before Administrative Law Judges or other judicial bodies. Files documents for the appeals process. Develops/obtains supporting medical evidence. Performs legal research. Writes pre- and post-hearing legal briefs. Prepares clients for testimony. Conducts hearings. Cross examines experts. Appeals unfavorable decisions to Appeals Council or other appellate bodies.
- File Management: Creates and maintains confidential client files detailing documents and laws/policies reviewed, correspondence prepared on behalf of the client, and case progress. Updates and maintains client records in case management and billing system.
- Training: Provides consumer and provider training/outreach as requested.
Qualifications:
- An active member of the California State Bar.
- Bilingual and bicultural (Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese or Russian) highly desirable.
- Ability to maintain case management databases and systems with minimal supervision.
- Ability to be sensitive to and work well with low-income individuals, people with psychiatric disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, people of color, active drug users, people with a history of homelessness or incarceration, and people in the LGBT community.
- Familiarity with mental health issues, HIV/AIDS, homelessness issues, and state and federal programs related to disability benefits and health care access (OA-HIPP, ADAP, SSI, SSDI, Covered California, Medi-Cal, Medicare) strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of Harm Reduction theory and practice as applied to legal services preferred.
This is a Full-time exempt position. PRC offers a competitive salary plus a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short/long-term disability for full-time employees and their eligible spouse/DP/children. PRC also offers employer matching contributions to 403(b) plan, Bar dues, professional development, sick leave, vacation, leave, and holiday pay.
Submit a cover letter and resume to PRC, Attn. Chuan Teng, 785 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Please include Job Code: “NNPTPBSA” in the subject line of your email, when applying.
PRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively seek applications from people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ individuals, and other disabilities, people of color, and people who are bilingual/bicultural.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified
applicants with arrest and conviction records.