Staff Attorney I, Transgender Advocacy

For more than 40 years Bet Tzedek has been committed to providing free legal services to those who need them most. In that tradition, Bet Tzedek is seeking a determined, organized, and zealous advocate for a temporary position assisting transgender individuals seeking legal remedy regarding gender-affirming identification and healthcare, discrimination, and/or harassment. Candidates should be able to articulate their passion for assisting people of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, and ages with varying English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities.

This position focuses on providing legal services and advocacy to transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in Southern California. The Transgender Rights Project assists individuals in correcting legal name and gender markers for full participation in community with dignity and as fully recognized members of the community. The staff attorney provides advocacy for individuals facing coverage denials for medically necessary gender affirming healthcare.

This position is eligible for Bet Tzedek Legal Services’ hybrid/remote workplace designation. At the discretion of the immediate supervisor, the employee may be required to work in the office or other locations to meet workload/business obligations. This requirement may be on a temporary or ongoing basis.

Requirements:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Conduct intakes of potential clients & litigants
• Assist individuals who have experienced denials of gender-affirming medical treatment through a mix of advice and counsel, limited scope services, insurance appeals, and/or representation in California’s Independent Medical Review process.
• Manage the execution of legal name and gender marker change clinics serving pro se litigants.
• Present trainings to prepare pro bono attorneys and volunteers for participation in virtual, in-house, and community-based legal name and gender marker change clinics.
• Prepare matters for pro bono placement, monitor status of placements, and provide technical support to pro bono attorneys.
• Address health-harming legal needs through advocacy utilizing laws mandating coverage for medically necessary gender affirming health care.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Active member of California State Bar in good standing. (required)
• Willingness to train and work with volunteer attorneys and students (required)
• Demonstrated commitment to non-profit legal services.
• Minimum one year of experience in LGBTQ+ advocacy.
• Comfort in modeling cultural humility and deep understanding of intersectionality within the context of navigating the legal system.
• Experience working with transgender individuals and familiarity with the needs of transgender communities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbal and written) in a clear, judicious, assertive manner.
• Experience in transgender rights, LGBTQ law and policy, and other relevant areas

Salary:

$72,495.22-$82,001.08 (DOE/DOQ)

Benefits:

BENEFITS PACKAGE:

Bet Tzedek offers an excellent benefits package in addition to competitive salaries. These benefits currently include:

• A generous number of paid holidays (up to 21 per year), vacation (up to 20, depending on number of years with agency), and sick days (up to 45) annually.
• Personal and floating holidays.
• Compensatory time for exempt employees.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave (after 1 year of employment.)
• Various paid leaves.
• Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage for employees and dependents, with office visit co-pay reimbursement for HMO enrollees.
• Life/accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Plan.
• Voluntary (employee-contributed) life/AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital confinement, and pet insurance.
• Employee-contributed 401(k) plan.
• Employee-contributed 403(b) plan.
• Healthcare and childcare flexible spending accounts.
• Commuter transit and/or parking benefits.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Please visit https://bettzedek.org/careers/ to submit a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample for “Staff Attorney I, Transgender Advocacy.” Please, no phone calls.

Note: All positions are subject to funding; ongoing funding or employment is not assured.

Bet Tzedek is a unionized environment. Our salary range for unionized positions reflects our agreed upon step placement system, and the final offer extended to candidates is based on an internal equity review and candidates’ relevant experience, skills, background, and bar date, if applicable.

To best serve our communities, Bet Tzedek seeks diverse staff with cultural competency reflecting our client populations. We strongly encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities and historically oppressed groups to apply.