School Discipline Advocacy Program Fellow - Health Law Advocates

The Opportunity

Health Law Advocates (HLA) provides free legal services to Massachusetts residents with low income who face barriers to accessing health care. Learn more about us at www.healthlawadvocates.org.

HLA's Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP for Kids) improves the health and increases the educational success of children with unmet mental health needs. The School Discipline Advocacy Program (SDAP) focuses specifically on school discipline issues that disproportionately impose inappropriate punishment instead of providing needed mental health services for students, especially students of color, with mental health disabilities. Learn more about us at www.mhapforkids.org.

You'll get great training and supervision, direct client contact, mentoring from a highly collaborative team of experienced attorneys, and excellent benefits.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with MHAP for Kids paralegals to identify appropriate cases for the SDAP and conduct initial intakes wherever possible.
• Conduct in-person or virtual follow-up interviews with parents to collect information, obtain releases and obtain records that parent/guardian may already have in their possession.
• Conduct investigations by obtaining relevant records, speaking with other parties working with the family and research relevant laws and regulations.
• Once the investigation is completed, ensure that the parent/guardian reviews and signs a limited representation agreement.
• Represent client at disciplinary proceedings, manifestation determination meetings, and/or superintendents' appeals and advocate on behalf of the affected students.
• Identify community partners and conduct outreach with those partners to promote the SDAP and cultivate referrals.
• Develop materials and deliver trainings to community partners aimed at educating attendees on school discipline and how to incorporate youth voice in the discipline process.
• Supervise legal interns in their representation of families with school discipline needs and attend disciplinary proceedings as a "second chair" for those students.

Qualifications

All HLA employees are expected to have the skills to:

• Work both independently and as an effective team member
• Collaborate with and support staff at all levels of our organization
• Communicate clearly and professionally
• Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity while working directly with clients encountering crises
• Maintain confidentiality and, for attorneys, strict adherence to all professional responsibility requirements for the practice of law
• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and openness, with the desire and ability to listen and learn
• Understand and believe in the mission of the organization
• Embody the values of the organization, including a commitment to decreasing inequity in our health care system and society as a whole

In addition, requirements specific to this position are:

• Must have graduated from an accredited law school before September 2024 with a J.D. or LL.M and 0-3 years of experience as a lawyer
  • Recent law school graduates are encouraged to apply
  • Comprehensive training will be provided
• Ability to display strategic thinking, analytical presentation and critical thinking skills
• Ability to perform comfortably in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented work environment
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and tasks simultaneously
• Willingness to build relationships with community collaterals and think creatively about outreach initiatives
• Commitment to developing oral and written advocacy skills
• Demonstrated interest in public interest law
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Access to self-provided transportation
• Ability to travel to in-person meetings in the state of Massachusetts if necessary
• Multilingual ability (preferred)

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $72,000-$83,000 annually. Benefits include:

• Retirement Plans 401(k) or Roth 401(k) retirement plans with employer contribution after one year of service.
• Medical Insurance HMO and PPO Options with a generous employer contribution. If you obtain health insurance elsewhere (typically through a parent, spouse or domestic partner) you are eligible for a taxable reimbursement.
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) FSAs allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for health care and dependent care expenses.
• Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance Life insurance at 2x your salary with a maximum of $400,000. The benefit is doubled in the event of accidental death. Long-term disability benefit that covers 60% of salary after 90 days of disability.
• Paid Time Off 20 vacation days, 15 sick days, 3 personal days plus your birthday off, 12 paid holidays, and 3 volunteer days per year.