LAW FOUNDATION OF SILICON VALLEY
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley was established nearly 50 years ago to provide free legal services to low-income residents and communities of color living in Santa Clara County. Our team of attorneys, social workers, and staff, together with pro bono volunteers, find stable homes for abused and neglected children, help people with disabilities access the benefits they need to remain healthy and self-sufficient, provide low-income people access to safe and stable housing, and address a number of other critical issues including education equity, racial equity, and more.
The Law Foundation is the region’s largest legal nonprofit, reaching more than 10,000 people each year. We have three major areas of expertise: Housing, Health, and Children & Youth. Our approach includes a blend of direct services and systems change work to address the immediate needs of our clients and the root causes of systemic inequities that negatively impact our client communities.
Community Health Advocate
SAN JOSE, CA
Hybrid or Remote: Hybrid*
Supervisor: Supervising Attorney
JOB DESCRIPTION
Over the last several decades, the United States has continued to lead the world incarceration rates. While Santa Clara County is most commonly known as Silicon Valley and the home to technology giants, it is not immune to systemic incarceration. Isolated but not hopeless, many individuals in the Santa Clara County jail system contact our Health Program for free civil legal services to help rebuild their lives, or to keep from falling into further despair. Our Health Program advocates for both individual and community health changes by providing direct services and systemic advocacy. Our team of lawyers and advocates works to address community needs by focusing on securing public benefits and protecting mental health patients’ rights.
Over the last several decades, the United States has continued to lead the world incarceration rates. While Santa Clara County is most commonly known as Silicon Valley and the home to technology giants, it is not immune to systemic incarceration. Isolated but not hopeless, many individuals in the Santa Clara County jail system contact our Health Program for free civil legal services to help rebuild their lives, or to keep from falling into further despair. Our Health Program advocates for both individual and community health changes by providing direct services and systemic advocacy. Our team of lawyers and advocates works to address community needs by focusing on securing public benefits and protecting mental health patients’ rights.
The Innovator would be supporting the Law Foundation’s Health program, with a focus on jail advocacy and working with incarcerated individuals, primarily incarcerated individuals living with mental health disabilities. Job duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Engage in policy advocacy including research and writing, writing reports related to policy advocacy, writing advocacy letters to legislative bodies, and meeting with elected officials.
- Address policy issues that include efforts to limit or halt the use of tear gas and tasers in prison, access to mental health services in prison, and the rights of incarcerated individuals to dignity and respect.
- Investigate potential systemic issues including research, writing, public records reviews, and in-person surveying (as allowed).
- Attend, monitor, and provide feedback at community meetings, government body meetings, task force meetings, and other meetings and/or hearings related to systemic advocacy.
- Conduct outreach and community education presentations and produce educational materials related to economic rights, patients' rights, and other legal issues confronted by incarcerated individuals.
- Participate in jail advocacy efforts, including conducting interviews with inmates, tracking jail compliance with health and safety mandates and reporting back on findings.
- Support Law Foundation program and organization-wide initiatives, including race equity.
- Support Health staff, advocates, and attorneys in case work and case management.
- Assist with client intake, referrals, and administrative tasks such as data entry, as needed.
- Participate in Law Foundation activities, such as program meetings and special events.
- Support program and organization-wide initiatives, including the race equity inclusion initiative.
- Assist underserved populations, including communities of color, LGBTQIA+ community, immigrant/refugee communities, individuals living with HIV/AIDS and/or mental health disabilities, incarcerated individuals, people using drugs, and system-impacted individuals, in line with the Law Foundation’s Race Equity Inclusion principles.
DESIRED SKILLS
- Ability to identify, investigate, and resolve client problems.
- Ability to analyze, write and present ideas clearly and concisely.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a team.
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated.
- Have a passion for social justice and race equity.
- Ability to treat incarcerated individuals, mental health consumers, and/or persons with other disabilities with dignity and respect.
- Connections to and experience working with incarcerated individuals, communities of color, and/or people living with disabilities.
- Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn new technology as needed.
- Basic ability to access, process, and organize data.
- Interest or passion for community-driven advocacy and policy advocacy.
REMOTE WORK DETAILS
This role will be a hybrid role office/remote job. The Innovator will need to be present in the office a minimum of two days per week.
Educational Rights Advocate
SAN JOSE, CA
Hybrid or Remote: Hybrid*
Supervisor: Supervising Attorney
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Legal Advocates for Children and Youth (LACY) Program of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is seeking an Educational Rights Advocate to represent youth in school discipline defense matters, including school expulsions. Responsibilities include advocacy on behalf of students and families to protect the rights of students to stay in district schools and to secure special education services when necessary.
The Weil Legal Innovator will be placed with the Children and Youth Education Rights Team within LACY and would work on behalf of disadvantaged youth and their communities to ensure that they have access to equal and excellent educational opportunities. Specifically, the Innovator will have a proactive role in disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline through direct representation of students facing school discipline. By providing a voice for marginalized students, the Innovator will work towards eliminating harsh, push-out discipline practices and putting in place supportive solutions. The Innovator will gain a firsthand understanding of the impact of suspensions and expulsions on students and on school climate. They will also learn to advocate for supportive, inclusive discipline policies that hold students accountable and improve school climate and safety for all members of the school community.
Under the direction of the Education Rights Team supervisor, the Innovator not only will have the opportunity to develop an array of professional skills and capacities, but also, they will be in a collaborative, supportive, and immersive environment. Through their hands-on work and case ownership, the Innovator will practice and hone critical lawyering skills such as client interviewing and counseling, fact investigation, theory development and refinement, successful negotiation planning and execution, and oral and written advocacy techniques.
The Innovator will have hands-on, in-person legal education which will prepare them for law school and real-world law practice. LACY attorneys, advocates, and support staff will work to support the Innovator's experiential learning experience: using the law to make lasting change in children's lives.
DESIRED SKILLS
- Demonstrated commitment to the rights of children and youth
- Experience in working with diverse populations, including communities of color and people living with disabilities
- Ability to identify, investigate, and resolve client problems
- Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
- Ability to work sensitively and productively with minors with diverse backgrounds including those in crisis
- Valid Driver's License or other transportation to attend meetings, hearings, home visits, and outreach presentations
- Excellent verbal, interpersonal, writing, interviewing, and organizational skills
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred
REMOTE WORK DETAILS
This position will require participation in LACY’s regular team meetings, staff meetings, and trainings. While most of the work can be done remotely, the Innovator will be required to meet in person with their clients and attend any expulsion hearings in person. They will have the option of working from the office whenever they would like.
