Legal Advocate

Legal Advocate

Job Summary:

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) is seeking a full-time Social Service Advocate to work alongside our Coordinating Attorney, providing representation and support to clients navigating the CARE Court process. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to serving disadvantaged populations. Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge of poverty law and experience in providing services to low-income individuals.

About Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1958 to provide civil legal services to the indigent and needy. Since its formation, has continually offered free legal services to the needy to protect their rights and assist them in remedying problems that affect their daily lives. We provide free legal services throughout the vast county of San Bernardino. Our organization advocates for the rights of low-income people, and we believe the right team with a powerful vision can change how society contributes to their success.

Benefits:

• Health care
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation/Sick/Holidays
• LASSB listed $61,000 - $71,000

What is CARE Court?

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court is a new initiative designed to support individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. It connects individuals struggling with untreated mental illness and often substance use challenges to a court-ordered Care Plan lasting up to 24 months. Each plan is managed by a community care team and includes clinically prescribed, individualized interventions such as supportive services, medication, and housing plans. The approach is client-centered, including a legal representative and supporter to help clients make self-directed care decisions alongside their clinical team.

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) will provide legal representation through an interdisciplinary team that collaborates on case assessment, strategy, and service provision. This position requires substantial experience working with clients who are severely mentally ill, particularly those with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders or disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum. The ideal advocate will possess excellent organizational skills and a willingness to work collaboratively across legal and social work disciplines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience working with clients who are severely mentally ill, particularly those with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
• Experience working with clients who have substance use disorders.
• Excellent verbal, writing, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Capability to work under pressure with empathy and professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse client groups, including those in crisis, seniors, individuals with disabilities (including mental health), people of color, the homeless or those at risk of homelessness, immigrants, non-English speakers, service providers, government employees, and community partners.
• Interest in being part of an interdisciplinary team supporting clients to prevent homelessness.

Highly Desirable Qualifications

• Familiarity with the San Bernardino network of social services.
• Comfort and familiarity with San Bernardino neighborhoods.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Experience working with the elderly, veterans, adults with disabilities, and/or unhoused individuals or those in crisis.
• Experience working or volunteering with social service or non-profit organizations.
• Commitment to contributing to the community and advancing justice for seniors and adults with disabilities.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with attorneys and the LASSB Licensed Clinical Social Worker to assess and meet the psychosocial and legal needs of clients.
• Support clients through the CARE Court process, including accompanying them to San Bernardino Superior Court and ensuring they attend required appointments.
• Work with the CARE Court system and the Department of Public Health (DPH) of San Bernardino County to develop CARE plans that clients agree to and that set them up for success.
• Meet clients in various settings, such as at home, shelters, court, and other community-based locations.
• Locate clients who may be unhoused or difficult to find and help them get to court or other required meetings.
• Connect clients with appropriate social services and support, including housing, physical and mental health services, and substance abuse treatment.
• Provide clients with housing resources and keep up to date with available housing waitlists.
• Assist clients in completing housing applications.
• Provide case management, crisis intervention, and support to clients with supervision from the LASSB Coordinating Attorney.
• Help clients evaluate and articulate their responses to CARE plans developed by SBDPH.
• Develop relationships with local social service organizations and agencies.
• Advocate for clients in non-legal settings, such as local housing authorities, social service offices, and community-based organizations.
• Advocate on clients' behalf with housing providers.
• Provide referrals to and collaborate with community-based organizations, such as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and Adult Protective Services (APS).
• Assist clients in accessing rental assistance and ongoing subsidies.
• Complete administrative tasks related to data collection, grant management, reporting, and client case management.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Supervisor.

Working Conditions

This position involves working with individuals during times of extreme stress and instability, requiring the provision of culturally sensitive and empathetic services. It necessitates travel to various neighborhoods and meeting clients in diverse settings, including homes, Single Room Occupancy Hotels, shelters, courts, and other community-based locations. Some evening and weekend work may also be required.

If you meet many of the qualifications listed, we encourage you to apply and explain in your cover letter why your experience makes you a good fit for the position. We understand that strong candidates might self-select out of the process if they do not meet every qualification, which can disproportionately affect individuals from historically marginalized backgrounds. Our strength lies in the diversity of our team, and a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally diverse staff enables us to best serve our community. We look forward to receiving your application.

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino is committed to diversity and seeks to fill all positions with individuals who share our values. We encourage all interested individuals to apply, especially people of color, women, individuals from low-income backgrounds, people with disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming, non-binary, or anyone belonging to any other federal or state-protected category. We believe in equal employment opportunity for all and are committed to non-discrimination on any basis prohibited by applicable law.