UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW is seeking a staff attorney for the Veterans Legal Clinic.

The Veterans Legal Clinic provides legal assistance to former service members and their families. The Clinic is located at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles campus, which is being redeveloped to provide additional housing opportunities to unhoused former service members. Many of the Clinic's clients are people that are unhoused and stay on the VA campus and those who are aging, disabled, or justice-involved or returning from incarceration.

The Clinic primarily represents clients in an array of issues, including disability benefits (both VA benefits and Social Security), citation defense, and housing. In addition to providing direct legal representation to individuals, the Clinic seeks to provide an interdisciplinary approach to client engagement by collaborating with other advocates, such as social workers and organizers. The Clinic also engages in policy advocacy in collaboration with community partners and may participate in impact litigation projects.

The Clinic operates as both a small pro bono law firm and an experiential learning course for UCLA law students. Though law students will be providing legal assistance as part of their coursework throughout the school year, the Staff Attorney will not be responsible for teaching these students but may work closely with clinical supervisors and student teams.

Position Description

The UCLA School of Law Veterans Legal Clinic is seeking a staff attorney to expand its services through client representation, community engagement and Clinic management. The Clinic is a small law office and the Staff Attorney has the opportunity to make a significant contribution in determining how services are provided. The Staff Attorney will be primarily located at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Campus. Job duties will vary, based on client and community need, but may include:

• Representing clients in administrative hearings, court proceedings, and appeals on legal issues such as VA benefits, quality of life citations, and housing matters;
• Conducting intake or initial interviews with potential clients to provide legal advice and assess cases for possible representation;
• Providing limited assistance and referrals for legal issues as appropriate;
• Coordinating outreach events, such as the annual Veterans Stand Down, conducting Know Your Rights workshops, and developing community clinics;
• Working with the Clinic’s Directors on policy and litigation matters, subject to time and interest of the Staff Attorney.

Qualifications

• 0-5 years experience practicing law in advocacy or policy issues;
• Admitted to practice law in the State of California (preferred) or ability to practice as a Registered Legal Services Attorney (See California Rules of Court Rule 9.45);
  
• Demonstrated excellent legal research and writing skills;
  
• Strong communication skills and ability to interact effectively with various audiences, including clients, faculty, staff, students, court and agency staff, and the public;
  
• Ability to independently manage a caseload and quickly assume responsibilities;
  
• Ability to travel throughout LA County;
  
• Demonstrated commitment to working to address the needs of low-income communities, former service members, system-involved individuals, and/or racial equity preferred;
  
• Familiarity or experience with issues facing former service members and their families, unhoused individuals, mass incarceration, and/or low-income communities preferred.

Veterans or service-connected individuals, women, and individuals from historically disadvantaged groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary: $4,692-$10,075 monthly

For additional details and to apply, visit the UCLA career portal: https://tinyurl.com/3w5auxpz

Questions about the position? Please contact Executive Director Jeanne Nishimoto, nishimoto@law.ucla.edu or Faculty Director Sunita Patel, patel@law.ucla.edu