Senior Attorney
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS) protects and advances the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities and empowers them to assert those rights in order to maximize their autonomy, achieve equity, and secure the resources they need to thrive. MHAS assists both children and adults, with an emphasis on obtaining government benefits and services, protecting rights, and fighting discrimination. MHAS also serves as a resource to the community by providing training and technical assistance to attorneys, mental health professionals, consumer and family member groups, and other advocates.
ANNUAL SALARY: $65,000-$80,000 full-time salary, depending on experience.
FRINGE BENEFITS AND WORK CULTURE:
Generous fringe benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking pass or transit fares.
MHAS is proud of its collegial, family-friendly culture that respects the work/life balance of its employees. To that end, MHAS is willing to consider flexible work schedules on a case-by-case basis. MHAS also provides employees with frequent wellness opportunities, including trainings on stress management and mindfulness, and (in non-pandemic times) regular, informal staff gatherings and a daily stretch break. Since March 2020, all MHAS employees have been successfully working from home. MHAS equips all employees working from home with any needed technology and other office supplies.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
MHAS seeks to hire an experienced attorney to join MHAS’ Senior Leadership Team as a Senior Attorney. MHAS is open to considering candidates who seek either part-time or full-time employment. MHAS Senior Attorneys provide substantive expertise and manage 1-2 of the following core projects: MHAS’ participation in the LA County Whole Person Care Medical-Legal Partnership, MHAS’ Homelessness Prevention project, MHAS’ Reentry project, MHAS’ Fair Housing project, MHAS’ General Intake Line, MHAS’ Consumer Finance Project, and/or MHAS’ Special Education project. Through all of these projects, MHAS provides legal advocacy for and direct legal services to vulnerable clients to ensure they have the resources and support needed to achieve better mental health outcomes and overall well-being.
The ideal candidate will have significant legal aid case management experience and project management experience and will be able to provide substantive legal supervision and guidance to staff attorneys in at least one, if not more, of the following subject areas: mental health law, housing, public benefits, consumer law, special education, and tickets and expungement.
Other responsibilities will include providing legal training and technical assistance to both staff and clients at our mental health partner agencies. The attorney will also take on such other client and policy work from time to time as deemed appropriate to MHAS’ mission and client goals.
MHAS utilizes a shared leadership model wherein all members of the Senior Leadership Team, including this position, meet regularly to discuss strategies and make decisions about staffing, funding, and programs in order to most effectively fulfill MHAS’ mission.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:
- Provide substantive expertise and oversight for 1-2 of MHAS’ projects and ensure that MHAS staff attorneys in these projects provide competent legal assistance to clients through advice and counsel, research and writing, negotiation, and administrative/court advocacy;
- Maintain an active caseload and provide direct legal assistance to clients as needed;
- Participate in interviewing, hiring and training of staff attorneys, legal fellows, law clerks, and non-attorney advocates;
- Mentor staff attorneys and other non-attorney advocates via regular individual check in meetings and team case review meetings;
- Assist with managing grants including tracking progress towards grant deliverables, drafting reports, and overseeing data collection/analysis;
- Maintain expertise in a broad range of poverty law issues;
- Provide technical assistance and training to staff and clients at MHAS’ mental health partner agencies; and
- Execute other projects and tasks as identified, related to MHAS’s mission.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- J.D. degree and membership in California State Bar.
- Commitment and sensitivity to the rights of people with mental health disabilities and other vulnerable populations.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Four + years legal experience strongly preferred.
- Experience advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations.
- Spanish language fluency or proficiency preferred.
APPLICATION PROCESS AND DEADLINE:
Submit the following to info@mhas-la.org (state “Employment Application” in subject line):
- Resume; and
- Cover letter describing how applicant meets the minimum and desirable qualifications and discussing applicant’s motivation for seeking the position.
View full job announcement at http://mhas-la.org/employment-opportunities/
MHAS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, mental or physical disability, or any other basis protected by law.