Staff Attorney – Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP

Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Staff Attorney - Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP)

Location:

San Bernardino, California (multiple office and clinic locations throughout San Bernardino and Riverside Counties)

Salary: $75,000-$90,000 annually

Classification:
Full-time Exempt

Work Arrangement:
Hybrid - in-person required for client home visits, field appointments, court appearances, and team support; some remote work available when offsite work does not require an in-person presence

Reports to:

Coordinating Attorney

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) has an immediate, full-time opening for a Staff Attorney in our Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP). Working alongside our Coordinating Attorney and Social Services Advocate, the Staff Attorney provides legal representation and advocacy to clients who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and who are likely eligible for disability benefits.

This role pairs disability benefits advocacy — assisting clients with applications and appeals for SSI/SSDI and related benefits — with housing-related legal advocacy aimed at helping clients obtain and maintain stable housing. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged populations. We will give preference to candidates who know poverty law and have experience providing services to low-income individuals.

The Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1958 to provide civil legal services to the indigent and needy. Since its formation, LASSB has continually offered free legal services to protect the rights of low-income people and to assist them in remedying problems that affect their daily lives. We provide free civil legal services throughout the vast counties of San Bernardino and Riverside.

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.

The Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) is a California program, administered through the Department of Social Services and county partners, that assists individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits. HDAP combines four core components — outreach, case management, disability benefits advocacy, and housing assistance — delivered by an interdisciplinary team so that clients receive help securing both disability income and stable housing at the same time.

LASSB provides the legal advocacy component of HDAP. Our Staff Attorney represents clients in pursuing disability benefits — including SSI/SSDI applications, appeals, and administrative hearings — and addresses the legal barriers clients face in obtaining and keeping housing. As a newer program area for LASSB, this role calls for creativity, patience, flexibility, and a strong commitment as we build out systems to best serve our clients.

Our legal representation is part of an interdisciplinary team that collaborates on case assessment, strategy, and service provision. Preferred candidates will have experience working with clients who have disabilities, serious mental illness, or substance use disorders, and experience serving clients who are unhoused or in supportive housing. The ideal advocate will possess excellent organizational skills and a willingness to work collaboratively across legal and social work disciplines.

• Health care coverage
• Life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan

• Active member of the State Bar of California in good standing
• Strong written, verbal, and interviewing skills
• Patient, flexible, and kind
• Works well in a team
• Ability to independently manage a caseload

• Experience with disability benefits advocacy, including SSI/SSDI applications, appeals, and Social Security administrative hearings
• Experience working with clients who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, including those in supportive or Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing
• Experience working with clients who are severely mentally…