Fall 2021 Legal Fellowship Sponsorship
JOB SUMMARY:
Texas Legal Services Center’s Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLPs) seek applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship, such as Skadden and Equal Justice Works, to begin in the fall of 2021. In addition to completing the online application process, applicants must submit a writing sample no longer than 5 pages and a law school transcript.
Founded in 2012, our MLPs work with other organizations in the community to mitigate social determinants of health. MLP lawyers are embedded within health care teams to detect, address, and prevent health-harming legal needs for people and communities. For example, the partnership may force landlords to remediate poor housing conditions that aggravate a patient’s asthma, increase access to care by helping patients establish eligibility for Medicaid, improve educational services for children with special needs, or help patients escape violent domestic situations.
TLSC will consider proposals that aim to address the legal needs of patients at KIND Clinic—a program of Texas Health Action—with physical locations in Austin and San Antonio, as well as statewide telehealth services. This project would ensure that members of the LGBTQ+ community and persons seeking sexual health services, especially those living with or at risk of HIV, are empowered to positively affect the socio-legal factors that interfere with overall health and well-being.
Possible strategies include coalition-building and community education on the legal needs of these populations, legal and policy advocacy, direct and referral representation, impact litigation, etc. Candidates are strongly encouraged to highlight their demonstrated interest and enthusiasm to work on any of the issues above, and to include their own ideas in their cover letter. Compelling projects build on our and your experience and skills. Please note that the successful candidate may not be expected to design his or her own project in its entirety, but rather may receive substantial assistance with the application based on previously identified legal needs.
This lawyer in this position is expected to:
- Maintain the highest ethical and professional standards of the State Bar of Texas.
- Adhere to the American Bar Association Standards for the Provision of Civil Legal Aid.
- Embrace and support Texas Legal Service Center’s overall mission.
- Comply with all grant requirements, regulations, standards, policies and confidentiality requirements.
This is a grant-funded position.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provide legal advice, assistance, referrals, and representation, where applicable, to eligible clients in a compassionate, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed manner.
- Conduct intake interviews via the telephone or in-person, confirm eligibility for services, check for conflicts of interest, and take appropriate course of action to appropriately address the client’s legal problem.
- Manage crises by responding promptly to client needs and soliciting their feedback to improve services.
- Perform research and analysis, conduct factual investigations, communicate with third parties, make agency referrals and assist in drafting or revising and filing legal documents.
- Cultivate working relationships, both internally and with network partners and other social services agencies in the community and statewide, to advance program and organizational goals.
- Lead or assist with promoting education efforts statewide and in local programs, including developing, presenting, or participating in various trainings aimed at law enforcement, attorneys, judges, and other social service providers, especially in health care and medicine.
- Travel to locations outside of Austin to further education efforts or meet on partner agency matters.
- Work with both legal and non-legal students interning with the program.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
- Maintain all client, project, and computer files in an orderly manner.
- Provide all information needed/requested for TLSC reporting in a prompt manner.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION/LICENSE (REQUIRED):
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J.D. or LL.M., obtained or expected, including:
- J.D. or LL.M. expected in Spring 2021
- Recent J.D. graduates, those completing judicial clerkship(s), and those with or with an expected LL.M., whose work history preserves your eligibility for post-graduate fellowships.
- Licensure by the Supreme Court of Texas, or admission as soon as practicable.
EXPERIENCE (PREFERRED):
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and LGBTQ+ rights.
- Knowledge of social determinants of health and the intersections between law and health.
- Experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals and/or persons living with or at risk of HIV, especially transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and other gender expansive communities.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS (REQUIRED):
- Current knowledge and expertise of the law and legal system, including areas related to sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV, and health care.
- High-level organization skills.
- Exceptional listening, verbal, and written communications skills.
- Strong time management and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with (or the ability to learn) LegalServer (TLSC’s case management system).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Understanding of grant requirements and associated reporting needs.
- Commitment to promoting inclusion, equity, and cultural responsiveness, and to protecting the rights of marginalized and underserved populations
- Ability to travel to out-of-town locations that include overnight stays.
- Ability to work with clients in a patient, trauma-informed and non-judgmental manner.
- Ability to enter information into case management system accurately.
- Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English at a professional level.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS (PREFERRED):
- Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking language(s) other than English at a professional level.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Sedentary work that involves sitting most of the time.
- Occasional bending, squatting, and kneeling.
- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, with a negligible amount of force needed at times to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.