Public Benefits/Education Lead Attorney

We are seeking a Public Benefits/Education Lead Attorney to join our dynamic Public Benefits/Education Law practice group, which focuses on providing comprehensive legal services, advocacy, and representation to clients, including helping with the application for and maintenance of low-income and disability benefits for vulnerable individuals reliant upon such income for housing and living expenses.  Public Benefits include, but are not limited to, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Title II and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), CalWORKs, CalFresh, Unemployment Insurance Benefits, and Veterans Affairs benefits. Additionally, our Education Law practice assists with school discipline and discrimination matters, as well as obtaining evaluations and the necessary support and services for students with special education needs. You may be required to travel to clients’ homes to conduct home visits to gather information, signature on documents, or locate clients who are experiencing homelessness. 

• Work closely with the Practice Group Director to supervise attorneys and non-attorney paralegal advocates, and support staff, including reviewing legal analysis for accuracy and the provision of legal advice and services to clients. 
• Provide team supervision in the Practice Group Director’s absence.  
• Provide support and training to new and current staff in substantive areas of law. 
• Organize and participate in community outreach events, legal workshops and clinics. 
• Develop broad legal expertise in public benefits and education law. 
• Interview and counsel clients. 
• Assist with conducting research, reviewing medical records, and evaluating claims based on merit. 
• Drafting and filing applications, appeals and briefs, as well as engage in mediation and negotiation to satisfactorily resolve clients’ legal issues.  
• Assist and/or represent clients during the application and appeal process for disability benefits and other public benefits. 
• Assist clients in achieving document readiness (e.g., obtaining California ID cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates etc.) that impacts their ability to obtain benefits and housing. 
• Assist and/or represent clients for state complaints with the California Department of Education. 

• Degree from law school and active member of the California Bar in good standing 
• Ability to understand the objectives of poverty law
• Prior work experience paid or volunteer work, with low-income organizations and client groups is preferred
• Five years of relevant work experience  
• Knowledge of federal and state public benefits and/or education law 
• Strong written, verbal, and interviewing skills 
• Attention to detail and strong organization skills
• Patience and flexibility, and a willingness to take on additional job responsibilities as needed
• Self-motivated, takes initiative, ability to learn quickly
• Prior supervisory experience 
• Prior administrative law experience or education in public benefits and education
• The ability to effectively communicate with community partner organizations to create and maintain working relationships. 

$89,168.00 – $123,478.00

Please submit a compelling letter of interest and resume via the following link: 

https://forms.office.com/r/z6wKXj7aCk 

The recognition of our common humanity is the first step in fostering a diverse environment. The sum of our unique differences is greater than our individual parts. Our unique stories and experiences allow us to better solve the challenges that our community faces. Staff approach professional relationships with humility across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities, and/or limited English proficiency with a willingness to consider unique perspectives. Inland Counties Legal Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.