Director of Policy & Legal Services

Job Title: Director of Policy & Legal Services 

Compensation:  $110K/year (based on 40 hours/week; prorated by FTE). 

Work Schedule: Full or Part Time

FSLA Status: Exempt 

Location: Lyon-Martin Community Health Services, 1735 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103

Hybrid in person/remote (at least 2 days in person)

Reports To: Executive Director

Organization Mission

The mission of Lyon-Martin Community Health Services is to provide high quality, compassionate and trauma-informed medical, gynecological, and mental health care services to trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and intersex communities and cis-gender women with specific sensitivity to LGBQA+ sexual orientation, disability, size, race, ethnicity, and language, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. 

We aim to eliminate health inequities for our communities by rooting our clinical practice in core foundational intersectional frameworks of anti-racism, self-determination, harm reduction, and reproductive and disability justice. As a community clinic, we believe our communities are best served by and for us; that’s why community engagement and leadership development are central to our mission of community care and mutual aid. Lastly, we commit to increasing access to culturally responsive care beyond our walls through provider training and education and addressing systemic barriers to care through policy advocacy.

Job Summary

The Director of Legal Services & Advocacy will build LMCHS’s legal services and individual advocacy offerings for its priority populations. Additionally, this position will work with staff, clients, and stakeholders to ensure that Lyon-Martin’s clients and staff expertise and lived experience inform public policy and legislative advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. The legal services and individual advocacy offerings will address a spectrum of legal challenges, including disability applications and appeals, mediating housing disputes, jail advocacy, name and gender marker changes, asylum support, and appeals for denied gender-affirming care. In addition to direct client work, the Director will represent Lyon-Martin in coalitions advocating for policy change at city, state, and federal levels, and will keep clinic staff informed of shifts in the policy, advocacy, and legal environment. Where appropriate, the Director may also review organizational contracts, policies and procedures, and oversee compliance matters, and may also serve as a liaison to government officials and agencies to advance Lyon-Martin’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

1. Client Advocacy & Representation
   1. Provide legal advice and counsel on matters such as SSI and SSDI cases, housing disputes, interactions with the criminal justice system, and name/gender marker paperwork.
   2. Collaborate with legal services organizations and pro-bono attorneys to represent clients with complex legal needs.
   3. Provide individual advocacy for clients (e.g., asylum letters, appeals of gender care denials, parole/probation letters, etc.).
   4. Collaborate with healthcare teams to ensure legal support is integrated with clinical care plans.
   5. Maintaining client confidentiality as required by applicable state and federal rules, and legal ethics requirements.
2. Policy & Coalition Advocacy Work
   1. Represent Lyon-Martin in coalitions and policy forums.
   2. Advocate for legislation, regulations, and systemic reforms to improve the health and well-being of queer, transgender, and intersex communities (intersectionally).
   3. Monitor, analyze, and, if applicable, prepare and submit comments on proposed regulations at local, state, and federal levels that may impact access to gender-affirming care or related services. 
   4. Prepare policy briefs, position statements, and other policy advocacy materials as needed.
   5. Collaborate with staff to integrate expertise from health care teams in policy, legislative, and regulatory advocacy.
3. Legal Education & Outreach
   1. Provide timely updates to clinic staff on relevant legal, policy, and regulatory developments.
   2. Provide in-service trainings or informational sessions as necessary.
   3. Liaise with external attorneys, legal aid organizations, and community-based groups to coordinate services and referrals.
   4. Provide external outreach and training to other attorneys, legal workers, health care professionals, and students, to advance Lyon-Martin’s interests. 
   5. Develop and maintain client education materials on topics such as name changes, immigration, and insurance appeals.
   6. Identify strategies to align legal education and outreach with Lyon-Martin’s commitments to racial, disability, gender, and economic justice. 
4. (If Applicable) Organizational Compliance
   1. Review and provide guidance on organizational contracts and/or policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, if part of the position scope.
   2. Identify areas of legal risk and propose strategies to maintain regulatory compliance specific to an FQHC setting.
5. Documentation & Reporting
   1. Maintain accurate and confidential records of client interactions and legal actions taken.
   2. Provide regular status updates and outcome reports to clinic leadership and other key stakeholders.
   3. Assist with grant applications or reporting that supports legal services and advocacy programs.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education & Licensure
  1. Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
  2. Active membership in good standing with the California Bar or be able to be admitted or sit for the next bar exam
      
• Experience
  1. Minimum of 4 years of post-graduate legal experience, preferably in civil rights, healthcare law, immigration law, or related areas.
  2. Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public policy, legislative affairs, government affairs, civil rights, health care, disability law, or other relevant field, or a combination of these fields. 
  3. Demonstrated experience advocating for LGBTQIA+ individuals, with emphasis on transgender and intersex legal issues.
      
• Skills & Knowledge
  1. Strong understanding of the complex legal barriers impacting queer, transgender, and intersex communities (e.g., housing, incarceration, immigration, insurance coverage).
  2. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal concepts into accessible language for diverse audiences.
  3. Effective collaboration and partnership skills, both within a clinical setting and with external organizations.
  4. Familiarity with policy advocacy and legislative processes at local, state, and federal levels.
  5. Ability to handle confidential information with sensitivity and discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center, healthcare-related legal setting, or gender-focused legal setting.
• Familiarity with administrative processes such as Medi-Cal/Medicaid appeals or Medicare coverage disputes.
• Multilingual proficiency (e.g., English/Spanish/ASL) is a plus.

Additional Attributes

• A strong commitment to social justice, health equity, and the mission of Lyon-Martin.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary clinical environment.
• Capacity to handle multiple high-priority tasks efficiently in a fast-paced setting.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for coalition meetings or policy-related events.

Benefits: Employees regularly scheduled for 16 hours or more per week are eligible for full benefits, which include 100% employer paid Platinum level medical plans for both employees and their minor dependent(s),  Premium dental, vision, life and acupuncture/chiropractic plans, as well as an up to 3% 403b match and access to pre-tax health, dependent care and commuter benefits.
 
Available Pay Differentials:  $1.00 per hours worked for employees certified bilingual in Spanish, Chinese, or Tagalog.