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The Opportunity

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Staff Attorney to join our Health Program at the 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 assistance to individuals experiencing economic instability and offer 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 training, 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.

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.

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 the 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 assistance to individuals experiencing economic instability and offer 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.