Staff Attorney, Health (Patients' Rights)

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Who We Are

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (“Law Foundation”) is dedicated to advancing the rights of historically excluded individuals and families throughout Santa Clara County. Through our legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach, we empower over 10,000 individuals and families each year. Our Housing, Children & Youth, Health and Pro Bono Programs use legal advocacy as a catalyst for social change, creating innovative solutions to the legal challenges facing low-income communities in our region. With a dedicated team of over 85 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Learn more at https://www.lawfoundation.org/ .

The Opportunity

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Staff Attorney to join our Health Program at Law Foundation. The Health Program provides free legal advice and representation to individuals living in Santa Clara County who identify as having mental health conditions, among other disabilities. We also provide free legal help to people experiencing economic instability and provide services through medical-legal partnerships. We approach our work with a deep commitment to addressing social determinants of health, mental health empowerment, and community-driven advocacy. We welcome new and experienced legal advocates to join our team of dedicated, passionate lawyers as we work together to support health equity for historically excluded residents in Santa Clara County.

What You’ll Do

As a Staff Attorney you will:

• Provide legal advocacy and representation to individuals living with mental health and other chronic health issues associated with poverty.
• Represent clients in locked psychiatric facilities in civil commitment and forced medication hearings.
• Ensure compliance with patients’ rights laws among mental health facilities through facility meetings, trainings, community education, grievance procedures, and legal advocacy.
• Plan and deliver community trainings, education, and outreach on topics related to patients’ rights, access to mental healthcare, and behavioral health in Santa Clara County.
• Monitor mental health facilities for compliance with patients’ rights laws, including laws governing the use of seclusion, restraint, and involuntary medication.
• Engage in community-based advocacy, coalitions, system reform, pre-litigation, and legislative efforts that concern or impact Health Unit 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.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure a seamless and people-centered approach to service delivery.
• Able to perform functions of the job in-person, including in-person representation of clients at hearings, in-person facility visits and/or in-person investigations at facilities.

Requirements:

Job Requirements

• Applicants must be current members in good standing with the California State Bar. Recent graduates and mid to senior level attorneys are encouraged to apply.
• Prior experience or a general understanding of patients’ rights issues and mental health law preferred.
• 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.
• Interest or passion in community-driven advocacy, policy advocacy, and/or impact litigation preferred.
• Committed to racial equity, inclusion and belonging and able recognize the ways that race, and other identities intersect in the work, especially for communities we serve
• 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.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish or Vietnamese (preferred).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, or capacity to pick up new computer skills

What We Offer

This is a full-time, exempt position, reporting to the Supervising Attorney. The annual salary range for this role is $80,400 to $108,400. All compensation is determined by the wage table of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between SEIU Local 521 and LFSV. Placement on the wage table will be based upon an applicant’s experience in comparable roles.

We are committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and professional development of our team members. To that end, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefit package, which includes:

• 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
• Free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents through our Employee Assistance Program
• A 401(k)-retirement plan with employer contributions
• A sabbatical after 5 years of employment
• 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 and/or social work license fees
• 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

Workplace Expectations

Law Foundation is a hybrid workplace. Please note that the Staff Attorney may be expected to work in our San Jose office a minimum of 2 days/week.

Employees must be California State residents. Due to logistical challenges regarding taxes, insurance, and time zones, we are not able to consider staff in other states at this time.

Working At Law Foundation

Law Foundation is a unionized workplace, and members of the bargaining unit are represented by SEIU Local 521. This position is part of the bargaining unit.

Additionally, Law Foundation is strongly committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff, volunteers, clients, and partners. To achieve this goal, the Law Foundation actively works to improve communications, community engagement, systems and structures, and office culture to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where differences are acknowledged and valued.

We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. Law Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior contact with the criminal legal system, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Application Process

Application materials must include:

• A cover letter that addresses the following: How has your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to social justice, race equity and diversity among our staff?
• A complete resume
• Contact information for three professional references. We will always ask for your consent and inform you before contacting any of your references.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority review will be given to applications received by June 20, 2025 Please note that our interview process includes interviewing by phone, video, and/or in-person.

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a team that values people, trust, accountability, creativity, joy, and fun, we would love to hear from you!