Veterans Staff Attorney & Benefits Specialist

Position Title: Veteran Staff Attorney & Benefits Specialist 

Program/Department: Vets

Reports to: Project Coordinator 

Location: All Veteran Office Locations

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Hours: Flexible hours between 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM; some evenings, holidays, and weekends may be required to support operations and respond to emergencies. (Days and times are subject to change based on operational needs) 

Status: Exempt (Salaried) - 1.0 FTE

Wage: $105,000 - $115,000

Supervisor Role: No

Our Core Values: Friendship Place is a Person-First Organization that promotes transparency and ethical practices among our team and those we serve. All individuals in our organization are expected to perform their job duties in a manner consistent with our core values.

Summary: This position provides supportive services to low-income Veteran households (Singles and Families). The Veterans Staff Attorney & Benefits Specialist will assist low-income Veteran Families in obtaining or increasing income by accessing benefits such as Veteran pension, Service-Connected Disability, SSI/SSDI, SOAR, TANF, and food stamps. The Veterans Staff Attorney & Benefits Specialist will help Veteran Families coordinate medical services and apply for or appeal benefits based on qualifications. This position will also provide legal services and support to participants in the Veterans First program. The Veteran Staff Attorney & Benefits Specialist will work to empower low-income Veteran Families in the District of Columbia, City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Frederick County, Carroll County, Washington County, Anne Arundel County, Garrett County, Howard County, and Allegany County to become stably housed.

At least 50% of the time will be spent in an office setting; must be able to sit and work at a computer for prolonged periods; up to 50% will be spent working in the field with supervising case managers, working with participants attending community events, and attending CoC meetings.

This position is a hybrid role. Work-from-home may be approved based on job duties and organizational needs but is not guaranteed and may be adjusted or discontinued at any time based on performance, service delivery requirements, or operational considerations. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist participants in applying for identified and eligible benefits
• Coordinate with medical services as it applies to obtaining benefits
• Act as a liaison between participants and government offices and local branches of VA, SSA, Medicaid, etc. 
• Develop partnerships with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and DC Metro Benefit Offices (DC/MD/VA) 
• Provide direct services to low-income Veteran households to help them obtain income (VA service-connected disability income, SSI/SSDI, retirement, unemployment, etc.) 
• Participate in the SOAR leadership team in D.C. 
• Act as VBA Regional office liaison and be the primary contact for filing claims 
• Maintain participant electronic records in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) 
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, supervision, and actively seek out professional development opportunities 
• Communicate professionally and clearly in all interactions—both written and verbal—to support seamless service delivery and collaboration 
• Demonstrate integrity, cultural responsiveness, and mission alignment in a fast-paced, equity-driven environment 
• Maintain regular contact with case managers and maintain availability to all relevant parties to provide necessary updates 
• Collect statistics and maintain records in Excel for tracking purposes 
• Demonstrate empathy and flexibility in responding to consumers’ needs and requests 
• Excellent time management, detail-oriented, organized, capable of maintaining confidentiality, and able to work independently with minimal supervision 
• Maintains compliance with all assigned mandatory training and background clearances 
• Attend professional trainings and conferences as needed 
• Perform all other duties as assigned 

Essential Competencies and Work Expectations for All Staff

Communication: Employee must:

• Demonstrate strong intra- and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively express ideas and needs. This includes communicating clearly and respectfully with clients, colleagues, and supervisors.
• Demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt their communication style to different individuals and situations.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication responsiveness and professionalism, including timely responses to emails, phone calls, messages, and other forms of communication within established organizational timeframes.
• Understand that timely communication is an essential function of the position, and failure to maintain consistent communication may impact performance expectations.

Accountability: Employee must:

• Demonstrate a high level of accountability, including ownership of responsibilities, meeting deadlines, following through on commitments, and accepting constructive feedback.
• Be committed to Growth and Development and strive to build knowledge, skills, and best practices.
• Maintain consistent attendance, dependability, and reliability as a critical function of the role.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, including integrity, honesty, professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability for actions. 
• Work successfully in a team environment as well as independently.

Respectful Workplace: Employee must:

• Treat all individuals with dignity, professionalism, and respect, including coworkers, supervisors, participants, vendors, and community partners.
• Demonstrate emotional professionalism, including the ability to communicate professionally during conflict or challenging situations.
• Contribute to a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment, free from hostility, intimidation, gossip, disruptive conduct, or unprofessional interaction

Qualifications - Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school
• Active member in good standing with a state bar association.
• VA Accreditation from the Office of General Counsel (OGC) is strongly preferred.
• Candidates who are not currently accredited will be considered, provided they demonstrate the eligibility and ability to successfully apply upon hire and obtain accreditation within 60 - 120 days of hire.
• 1-5 years of legal experience is required.
• Experience working with veterans and the legal and benefit issues they face is preferred.
• A valid driver's license, current auto insurance, and the ability to operate a motor vehicle are required.
• Must have or be able to obtain a First Aid/CPR/AED certification that includes a hands-on skills testing module. Friendship Place will provide First Aid/CPR/AED training.
• Excellent time management, attention to detail, organization, confidentiality, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision are required.
• Strong written and verbal skills are required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, specifically Word and Excel, with the ability to learn database programs is required.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent Customer Service - Displays kindness and respect and meets service expectations.
• Ability and willingness to work in a diverse and challenging environment.  
• Ability to maintain healthy and professional boundaries.
• Must demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt communication style to different individuals and situations. 
• Strong commitment to Friendship Place’s mission, vision, and core values.
• This role involves working closely with individuals who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. At times, the work may involve exposure to emotionally sensitive or challenging situations. Employees must be compassionate, self-aware, and able to maintain healthy boundaries while supporting others respectfully and in a trauma-informed way.

Background checks:

This position is subject to successful completion of background investigations as required by contract and applicable law, which may include but are not limited to state and federal criminal history checks, fingerprint-based checks, child/adult protective services registry checks, and other required program-specific or funding-source clearances, including pre-employment and Drug and Alcohol Screenings. Valid government-issued ID, reference checks, and verification of current and/or previous employment are required. Continued employment is contingent upon maintaining required clearances throughout employment.

Direct Reports: None

Specific Requirements: This position requires travel and must have reliable access to personal transportation to fulfill job duties. The vehicle must meet all legal requirements, including valid registration and current auto insurance. Employees must provide the employer with current copies of their valid driver's license and proof of insurance. They must maintain an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) that meets organizational or insurance carrier standards as a condition of employment. Additionally, employees must notify the employer and provide updated documentation within a legally appropriate timeframe if their driver’s license status or insurance coverage changes.

Other Details

Application Deadline: This job is open until filled or until the hiring manager determines they can no longer accept applications.

Compensation: The salary range is $112,000-$120,000. The starting pay is based on a step system. A candidate’s starting pay determination is based on meeting the basic position requirements and current completed education, credentials, and work experience. Please note: The step system is set and not open to pay negotiation.

Benefits: We offer an excellent benefits package including low-cost health insurance, health reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 403B defined contribution plan matching, employee assistance programs, professional development, employee resource groups, 12 paid holidays, 15 days of vacation and 10 days of sick leave during the 1st year of employment, and much more! 

Equal Opportunity Statement: We support all qualified individuals within our workforce without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, political affiliations, matriculation, credit, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Friendship Place is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Human Resources at [email protected]

Interview Process: Phone screening, On-site panel-style interview, final interview.

Website: www.friendshipplace.org

How to Apply: Interested applicants should apply via the organizational website. All of our current career openings can be found by visiting www.friendshipplace.org