About the Legal Aid Justice Center:

The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that partners with low-income clients and communities of color in Virginia to fight for racial, social, and economic justice. We understand that the harms our clients endure are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice. Together we are dismantling those systems through a combination of community organizing, litigation, policy advocacy, public relations, and individual legal services.

Founded in 1967, LAJC has offices in Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, and Falls Church and provides services under six key program areas: Civil Rights & Racial Justice (focuses on the criminal legal system), Housing & Consumer Justice, Youth Justice, Health Justice & Public Benefits, Immigrant Justice, and Worker Justice. As examples of LAJC’s recent work, our lawsuit and organizing against the state forced reform of Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including advocacy that resulted in the distribution of over $1 billion in illegally withheld payments to over 160,000 Virginians. During the pandemic, we demanded and secured a statewide eviction moratorium and emergency pandemic protections that helped hundreds of families avoid eviction. We reduced incarceration across the state, including reducing the population of a local immigration detention center down to historically low levels through a coordinated effort of organizing paired with impact and individual litigation. Our staff are on the front lines of some of the most important anti-poverty fights happening today.

With a staff of over 90, the past few years have been a time of exciting growth and opportunity for the organization. In addition to the growth of programmatic efforts including increased organizing capacity, LAJC has expanded its operations and administrative capacity, created new opportunities for professional growth and leadership among staff, engaged in ongoing race equity work, and explored changes to organizational structure to deepen its efforts to create long-term, sustainable, community-driven change.
LAJC’s latest strategic plan is available at https://www.justice4all.org/lajc-strategic-plan-2022-2026/#area d.

For more information about LAJC’s work and programs, visit www.justice4all.org.

About the Position:

The Legal Aid Justice Center seeks a Health Justice Paralegal/ACA Enrollment Navigator within our Health Justice and Public Benefits program. This position will manage Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollments for our clients during the open enrollment period each year. Outside of the open enrollment period, job duties will include answering questions and enrolling eligible community members in the ACA through special enrollment and assisting clients with navigating other public benefits programs. Eventually, this position may undertake independent advocacy efforts in administrative cases, under the supervision of an attorney. We have managed a robust ACA navigation program since 2013 so our experienced Navigators will assist in training and provide support.

This position is working within the broader Southwest, Virginia region.

Job Duties:

• Help manage and advocate in public benefit cases (such as Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, etc.) in collaboration with LAJC health justice attorneys
• Engage in outreach and education around ACA and other benefits
• Enroll eligible individuals in ACA insurance and other benefits programs
• Work with our team of attorneys and organizers to build strength, support, and trust in local client communities
• Participate in public benefits task force meetings, annual statewide trainings, and national trainings

Required Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial justice
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals and/or communities directly impacted by economic and racial injustice
• A high level of professionalism and outstanding interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to problem-solve and willingness to spend a considerable amount of time networking and negotiating with bureaucracies on behalf of clients
• After hiring, the candidate must meet all state and federal requirements to qualify as an ACA navigator to ensure continued employment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with the ACA or other public benefits programs or health insurance programs
• Diverse economic, social, and/or cultural experiences
• Professional competency in the Spanish language

Application Deadline: September 15, 2023. We accept applications on a rolling basis and encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Salary: Salary range is $50,000 to $65,000 based on years of relevant experience and LAJC’s formal salary scale. Placement on the range will be based primarily on years of relevant experience and the anticipated hiring range is between the beginning to the middle of the range ($50,000 - $57,500).

Benefits: Our mission is compelling, and our team members are passionate about their work, and so we recognize the need to provide generous benefits and encourage rest and a healthy work environment. For example, we provide:

• Generous paid time off every year, including 3 to 6 weeks of vacation, 12 days of health leave, 6 weeks parental leave, and 14 holidays (not including bonus holidays/rest days allocated as needed)
• 100% employer paid health, dental, and vision insurance, plus excellent family insurance with annual max of $2,400 premium contribution to LAJC-sponsored health plan
• 403(b) retirement plan with 4% employer contribution (no required match)
• Strong commitment to professional development
• Relocation package

Application Instructions: Complete the online application which may require a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. Please note, we will not contact references without advance consent from candidates.
Vaccination Requirement: The Legal Aid Justice Center requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exemption as a qualification of employment. Proof of vaccination or accommodation request must be provided within one day of employment.
The Legal Aid Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. The Legal Aid Justice Center is committed to strengthening the voices of our low-income clients, working in collaboration with community partners, and rooting out the inequities that keep people in poverty. We strive to take on the issues that have broad impact on our client communities and to be responsive to client input. Recognizing the particular impact of racism on our clients and staff, we devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for evidence that applicants have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.