Overview

Join the growing Financial Security and Stability team at Legal Assistance to the Elderly (LAE) and help ensure our seniors can age in place, with dignity and financial security. We provide a vital service, advising and aggressively advocating for and representing consumers, seniors who have been financially exploited, and homeowners who are seniors or adults with disabilities facing foreclosure or foreclosure related law suits. We also work to preserve generational wealth and prevent financial elder abuse through end-of-life planning and advocacy. The work is intense and demanding, but very rewarding.

For over 40 years, LAE has provided free legal advice and representation to San Francisco’s seniors and adults with disabilities. Our mission is to protect and advance the right of San Francisco’s seniors and adults with disabilities to be housed, healthy, financially stable, and safe. Our primary practice areas are Eviction Defense/Housing Preservation (tenants only), Income Support, Health Law, Financial and Physical Elder Abuse Prevention, Debt Collection Defense, Foreclosure Prevention, End of Life Planning and Conservatorship Defense. LAE is a friendly and collaborative work environment. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Member State Bar of California (pending CA Bar results will be considered)
  • Strong written, verbal and interviewing skills
  • Patient, flexible and kind
  • Works well in a team
  • Ability to independently manage a caseload

EXTREMELY DESIRABLE

  • Bilingual in English and Spanish, Cantonese and/or Mandarin

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

  • Knowledge of housing law, foreclosure and/or estate planning
  • Knowledge of legal issues related to poverty and/or aging
  • Trial experience
  • Experience working with elderly or disabled individuals or those experiencing a crisis
  • Experience working in a non-profit legal service organization, or other non-profit
  • Familiar with or resident of San Francisco’s eastern neighborhoods

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide legal advice and full scope legal representation to clients facing loss of home ownership
  • Preparation of homestead exemptions
  • Preparation of Wills, Special Needs Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Durable Power of Attorney–Financial, and Advanced Health Care Directives
  • Work with Financial Security and Stability Team on consumer and financial elder abuse cases, and other matters as needed
  • Conduct intake interviews with new clients, including home visits, when necessary
  • Outreach and develop partnerships with community organizations and HUD certified mortgage counselors
  • Attend weekly program meetings, staff meetings, and relevant supervision meetings

This position requires the initiative to develop legal skills, including oral and written advocacy and legal research, as well as case management skills including client communications, tracking case deadlines, and monitoring workload. The supervising attorney and the entire foreclosure prevention team will provide the necessary support and serve as a resource to nurture this initiative.

SUPERVISED BY: Supervising Attorney

WORKING CONDITIONS

The position requires working with individuals during moments of extreme stress and instability. The position also requires the provision of culturally-sensitive and empathetic services. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Due to the COVID pandemic, our office is working on a hybrid schedule that includes both working from home and in the office. This position particularly will be required to work sometime in person/in the office for mandatory court appearances, required client meetings, hearings and depositions, and some supervision of staff attorneys and administrative staff.  

UNION MEMBERSHIP

After successful completion of a probationary period (90 days), membership in the National Organization of Legal Services Workers becomes a condition of employment.

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