Post-Bar Fellow – SSI Team

About the role

This position is open to those who will be taking the July 2026 California Bar exam. The position is intended to transition into a full-time staff attorney position on the SSI Team, as described below.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Participates in outreach activities to educate community groups on their rights and on available services.
• Conducts eligibility screenings of prospective clients and determines qualification for SSI/SSDI programs.
• Develops and manages their own workload, through the workup of intakes and cases assigned.
• Drafts initial application forms, letters, requests for records, appeals, briefs, and other legal documents for review by attorneys.
• Conducts legal research, gathers documentation and evidence, and provides legal analysis.
• Provides legal information under the supervision of attorneys.
• Sherows experienced attorneys in client interviews and in court.
• Participates in scheduled team meetings, training sessions, case reviews, and other functions as deemed appropriate or necessary by the Managing Attorney.
• Timely and accurately enters required information on each case into the computerized case management database.
• Maintains compliance with all program and grant requirements, as well as eligibility criteria and professional conduct regulations.
• Maintains the confidentiality and integrity of all information related to all cases, clients, and applicants.

Requirements

• Recent law school graduate who will be taking the July 2026 California Bar Exam.
• Excellent written and oral communication, research, and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle a substantial workload while functioning professionally and effectively.
• Ability to work effectively with community members, staff, volunteers, students, attorneys, and government agencies.
• Desire to work in public interest law and represent our client communities.
• Ability to work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds and with LASSD’s client communities.
• Knowledge and/or experience with Social Security Disability benefits.

Fellowship Terms

Upon passage of the July 2026 California Bar exam, a favorable performance evaluation, and subject to available funding, it is anticipated the Post-Bar Fellow will be offered full-time, permanent employment as a Staff Attorney on one of LASSD’s practice teams, and that they will commit to remaining in their Staff Attorney position for at least one (1) year. There is no guarantee of ongoing employment should the post-bar law fellow not successfully pass the July 2026 California Bar exam and/or not be admitted for membership to the State Bar of California. Furthermore, successfully passing the California Bar exam and being admitted for membership to the State Bar of California does not guarantee employment on the same practice team that the fellow was assigned to during the post-bar law fellowship.

Pay And Benefits

• The Post-Bar Fellow position is a non-exempt position with a pay rate of $37.37 per hour.
• LASSD offers a generous benefits package, a 35-hour workweek, paid vacation leave and sick leave and 100% employer-paid medical premium, 50% employer-paid premium for dependents under LASSD health plan, as well as dental, vision, and life benefits.
• Staff also have the option to participate in a 403(b)-retirement plan and dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA).
• LASSD has its own law school loan repayment program and is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Hybrid Work Environment

LASSD has adopted a hybrid work environment in which most staff are required to work in the office two days of the week and permitted to work remotely for the remainder of the week, provided their job duties allow. All employees are issued LASSD computers and provided with appropriate supplies to perform their work. LASSD has implemented and continues to explore additional technologies to make our hybrid working environment as efficient and connected as possible. All employees must be available to travel to LASSD offices and service locations throughout San Diego County as needed and in compliance with public health advisories.