Massachusetts Advocates for Children Senior Attorney (Racial Equity Focus)

“We do not merely have a social responsibility to assure that our children and youth have decent life chances and prosper. We have a sacred obligation to do so.” Founder Hubie Jones

ABOUT MAC

Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) is a non-profit legal organization working to remove barriers to education to achieve education equity for low-income students, children with disabilities, immigrant children, and Black and Brown youth. During this time when civil rights in education are under political attack, MAC is a key leader in fighting to maintain and enforce longstanding protections for these children.

Our work is multi-level, driven by a community-informed, ground-up advocacy model. Our multilingual helpline supports thousands of parents and caregivers each year, offering guidance, resources, and referrals to help them overcome educational barriers. We provide free legal representation to children with the greatest needs. We then take what we learn from our direct advocacy and create changes at the system level through both impact litigation as well as legislative and policy advocacy. Our issue-focused coalitions raise awareness and build strategic roadmaps for change, while our training and community engagement work empower parents to advocate for their children and become leaders in the movement for educational equity. Since 2016, MAC has been deeply and formally committed to advancing racial equity within our organization and the educational systems we seek to reform. We apply a racial equity lens to all of our advocacy. Our ongoing Racial Equity Initiative equips us to better identify, address, and respond to structural racism, ensuring that our work and organization reflect the values of justice and inclusivity.

To learn more about our mission and work, please visit MAC’s website or view a video about who we are.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Senior Attorney will play a pivotal role in combating the impact of structural racism on educational policies, practices, and outcomes through individual client advocacy and systemic advocacy statewide and within the Boston Public Schools community. Specific issue areas are likely to include special education, student discipline, immigrant student rights, and homelessness.

The Senior Attorney will join a team of exceptional public interest attorneys and advocates working together to combat what we recognize to be politically motivated attacks on education equity for children and youth who have been historically underserved. This position includes opportunities to collaborate with key community partners, and to supervise staff attorneys. The Senior Attorney will be supervised by the Legal Director and have substantial opportunity for leadership and growth within the organization.

• Provide direct representation to families experiencing the impacts of systemic racism in relation to their children’s access to education.

• Take a leadership role in the creation and execution of legal case strategies.

Systemic Change Advocacy

• Identify emerging trends that may guide the directions of MAC’s systemic advocacy and case priorities.

• Engage in systemic legal and policy advocacy at the school district, state agency, and legislative levels. This includes leading legislative campaigns, serving as part of litigation teams, and administrative advocacy.

• Publicly represent MAC in settings such as testifying before the state legislature, administrative bodies, and in the media.

• Lead MAC’s advocacy focused on racial equity in Boston Public Schools.

Attorney and Legal Intern Supervision

• Supervise staff attorneys in direct client and systemic change advocacy.

• Ensure that case activities are documented in MAC’s case management system.

• Supervise legal interns and support recruiting efforts.

Community Engagement and Education

• Establish new relationships and grow MAC’s existing relationships with diverse community, parent, and student organizations with a focus on Boston Public Schools.