Description
Who We Are
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley advances the rights of historically excluded individuals and families across Santa Clara County through legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach. We serve over 10,000 individuals and families each year through our Housing Program, Children & Youth Program, and Health Program. Our attorneys, social workers, and advocates use legal advocacy as a tool for social change by crafting inventive solutions to the legal issues facing low-income people in our region.
With a staff of 90 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Our work is collaborative and meaningful and includes plenty of opportunities for professional growth. As a staff, we actively engage in discussions about race, equity, and inclusion, and are actively working towards a Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)-centered legal services practice that incorporates community and movement lawyering.
Requirements
What You’ll Do
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is seeking a full-time Community Housing Advocate (CHA) to join its Housing department. The Housing department works to incorporate community lawyering and other race equity tools into its practice to provide the best possible housing services to our clients. The Housing department has a strong focus on anti-displacement and dedicates resources to both direct services work and system change.
The team of CHA’s will share responsibility for the tasks and duties outlined below. Community Housing Advocates investigate and document what is happening in the community, transmit legal knowledge to community members, and identify and initiate policy campaigns and impact litigation for the Housing department. They have frequent contact with the community and significant influence in directing the work of the Housing department.
Primary Duties
- Conduct phone and in-person intake interviews with low-income tenants to screen for legal issues such as reviewing eviction notices and responding to Housing Authority requests
- Provide legal information and referrals regarding housing-related legal matters
- Provide brief legal services under the supervision of an attorney to low-income tenants, including drafting legal demand letters and preparing Court paperwork related to eviction cases
- Provide representation to tenants under the supervision of an attorney in administrative proceedings such as housing subsidy termination hearings and administrative hearings with housing providers
- Provide legal support to attorneys on affirmative and impact litigation, including formatting and drafting legal documents, assisting with client and witness preparation, investigating legal claims, translating and interpreting for attorneys, filing documents with the Court, organizing and filing case-related documents and keeping files organized for attorneys
- Engage in policy advocacy pertaining to anti-displacement and tenant protections including rent stabilization, and just cause eviction protections by attending community meetings, attending City Council and Board of supervisor meetings, and providing oral and/or written testimony
- Help to organize and engage community members in policy campaigns
- Investigate potential legal claims and systemic issues including research, writing, public records reviews, document reviews, interviewing clients and witnesses, and in-person surveying
- Attend, monitor, and provide feedback at community meetings, government body meetings, task force meetings, and other meetings/hearings related to systemic advocacy
- Conduct outreach and community education presentations and produce educational materials
- Support program and organization-wide initiatives, including race equity and inclusion
- Maintain detailed and accurate data and case notes for all intake and case matters the Housing Program takes on
- Interpret or translate when necessary for staff and pro bono attorneys
- Provide support for pro bono clinics, including assisting with client and volunteer scheduling and tracking, clinic coordination, and other administrative tasks
Who You Are
This position may be a good fit for you if you have:
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to multi-task and perform well under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work independently and effectively work as a part of a team, both internal and external to the Law Foundation
- Demonstrated initiative and proactivity
- Ability to issue spot and clearly convey legal information to clients
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience in policy advocacy and/or organizing
- Experience in community organizing
- Connections to and experience working with diverse populations, including communities of color and people living with disabilities
- Ability to interact compassionately and effectively with individuals in crisis
- Passion for social justice and race equity, as well as a desire to assist underserved populations
Required Qualifications
- Willingness to work non-traditional hours, including some nights and weekends in order to meet community needs
- A minimum of two years working in the community or equivalent
- Bilingual in Vietnamese/English
Candidates of diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, persons living with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ community encouraged to apply.
What We Offer
The annual salary scale for this role is $27.75 - $42.26 per hour. 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. Excellent benefits are provided including:
- A 35 hour/week schedule
- 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
- A robust Employee Assistance Program that includes free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents
- A 401(k)-retirement plan with employer contributions
- A sabbatical after 5 years of employment
- An annual budget for professional development
- The option to work a hybrid schedule
Location
Law Foundation is a hybrid workplace and staff will be required to commute to our San Jose offices 2+ days per week. As long as staff can meet the requirements above, including commuting at their own expense, staff may live anywhere in California. Due to logistical challenges regarding taxes, insurance, and time zones, we are not able to consider staff in other states at this time.
The Law Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer. We encourage people of color, womxn, people living with disabilities, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to apply. It is the policy of the Law Foundation to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status. The Law Foundation will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
ADA Accessible Facility - Equal Opportunity Employer - Drug-Free Workplace