Staff Attorney

The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) seeks a staff attorney to work on advocacy projects and collaborate with staff to advance the work of the office in defending the rights of persons with mental health concerns.

MHLAC is a state agency of the Supreme Judicial Court, created by the legislature in 1973. MHLAC offers free legal assistance to indigent people with mental health challenges throughout the Commonwealth. MHLAC’s experienced and talented staff focuses on identifying and addressing issues faced by significant numbers of clients in common. Approaches to solving client problems depend on the issue itself and the best strategy for accomplishing results. Tactics include class-based and targeted individual litigation, as well as legislative, administrative, and public advocacy.

MHLAC also serves as a statewide resource on mental health law and policy. It generates legal and policy materials, testifies on proposed laws and regulations, and has a long history of providing educational and training programs for public counsel, legal services attorneys, social workers, judges, and the general public. See http://mhlac.org/what-we-do/ for a description of MHLAC’s approach and work.  

MHLAC is committed to addressing racial equity concerns. In making strategic work choice decisions, priority is given to issues affecting persons with multiple characteristics that expose them to bias (e.g. persons of color who have or are perceived to have mental health concerns). This is consistent with workplace values. MHLAC is committed to creating an inclusive environment that promotes and values racial equity and diversity. We strongly encourage and welcome people of color, people with disabilities, those with personal experience related to mental health concerns, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds to apply.

Duties:

·       In cooperation with advocacy teams, take on a substantial and supporting role in litigation or other advocacy, independently or in partnership with other organizations or community groups, to address problems that significant numbers of MHLAC clients share in common; 

·       Handle legal representation in prioritized individual cases as needed to advance systemic advocacy projects and the pursuit of MHLAC’s mission; 

·       Travel to meet with clients and client groups throughout the Commonwealth to provide representation, information, or strategic assistance that is connected to the pursuit of systemic reforms; 

·       Field requests from legal advocates and attorneys in Massachusetts seeking technical assistance in cases they are handling for MHLAC eligible clients; 

·       Participate in the production of training events for attorneys, social service providers, and persons with lived experience on emerging issues in mental health law and policy; 

·       Attend trainings, conferences, and events relevant to MHLAC priorities in order to stay up to date on, and gain insight into, mental health law and policy issues; 

·       Represent MHLAC client interests in public forums, including legislative and rulemaking hearings and on statewide task forces. 

References and writing samples will be requested of finalists. A criminal background check will be completed for the selected candidate. 

Benefits:                          Strong package includes access to Massachusetts’ excellent re