Health Staff Attorney - Patients' Rights

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 annually through our Housing Program, Children & Youth Program, and Health Program. With a staff of 90 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area.

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 a 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

The Health Staff Attorney – Patients’ Rights manages a caseload of individual clients and broader advocacy efforts. Key responsibilities include:

• 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.

What You’ll Do

The Health Staff Attorney – Patients’ Rights manages a caseload of individual clients and broader advocacy efforts. Key responsibilities include:

• 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.

Who You Are

• Member of the California Bar or otherwise eligible to practice law in California(recent graduates and mid to senior level attorneys 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.
• 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).
• Interest or passion in community-driven advocacy, policy advocacy, and/or impact litigation preferred.

What We Offer

The annual salary scale for this position is $80,000 - $105,000; compensation is based upon bar admission date and comparable experience. All compensation is determined by the wage table of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between SEIU Local 521 and LFSV. Excellent benefits are provided, including:

• 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 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 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. If staff can meet the requirements above, including commuting at their own expense, staff may live anywhere in California. 

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. 

ADA Accessible Facility - Equal Opportunity Employer - Drug-Free Workplace

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 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 January 15, 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!