The Health program at Law Foundation is seeking two Health Staff Attorneys to help with various projects within our Economic Rights and Patients’ Rights Programs. The Economic Rights Unit provides legal assistance and representation regarding problems related to public benefits, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medi-Cal, as well as general legal services related to consumer law, employment law, simple estate planning, and more. You will have the opportunity to help clients obtain benefits or prevent the loss of benefits to which they are entitled. This includes representation at administrative law hearings.
Your Patients’ Rights responsibilities may include: 1) representing patients in locked psychiatric facilities in administrative hearings to challenge involuntary detention for mental health treatment or to preserve a patients’ right to refuse psychiatric medications; 2) investigating and resolving complaints from recipients of mental health services regarding improper denials of patients’ rights; 3) monitoring and challenging mental health facilities and services for compliance with statutory and regulatory patients’ rights provisions; and 4) providing technical assistance, training, and outreach to mental health providers, consumers, and community members.
Moreover, the Health program leads impact litigation and policy advocacy efforts that the staff attorney will help lead. The Attorney may also assist with client intake, performing eligibility screening to potential clients, assessing their legal issues, and either referring clients for further assistance within the Law Foundation or providing appropriate referrals. This position is an opportunity to engage with clients and to make health equity decisions and change.
This position is full-time. An ideal candidate has at least two years’ experience including litigation and is open to flexible team assignments within the Law Foundation. We are hiring one permanent health staff attorney and one temporary staff attorney for our team.
