Staff Attorney

WAGE AND HOUR/ HOUSING/BENEFITS STAFF ATTORNEY

The mission of MetroWest Legal Services is to provide legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of the poor, elderly, disabled and other disenfranchised people in our service area and to assist them in obtaining legal, social and economic justice. Responsibilities include: • Representing clients in Small Claims Court, District Court, and Superior Court proceedings involving client’s private right to actions on minimum wage violations, retaliation, and misclassification as independent contractions, domestic worker violations, and wage theft issues. Coordinating with the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, participating in coalitions, and conducting outreach and community legal education. (Approximately 50% of caseload) • Representing clients in judicial and administrative proceedings involving evictions, access to public and subsidized housing, enforcement of tenant rights, and termination of housing subsidies. • Representing clients in government benefits (MassHealth, SNAP, DTA cash benefits, SSI/DI) appeals from initial appeal through administrative proceedings or judicial review. • Screening wage theft clients for immigration relief, and referring to MWLS immigration unit determine if T and U-Visa relief available.

Qualifications/Competencies include: • Admitted to Massachusetts bar (or a bar of another state**). • Bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese required. • One to three years of legal experience preferred. • Experience representing low-income people in court and administrative proceedings required. • Experience representing low-income people in wage theft and housing cases desired. • Experience representing low-income people in government benefits cases desired. • Experience working with and/or representing a broad range of people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people with low incomes. • Excellent writing and oral advocacy skills. • Sense of humor and willingness to be a team player. **An applicant who is admitted to the bar of another state must be eligible to practice as a foreign lawyer under SJC Rule 3.04 and become a member of the Mass. bar within 2 years.

Salary/Benefits: Commensurate with Experience. Generous benefits package include three weeks of vacation, health and dental insurance, matching retirement contributions, and extensive professional development opportunities.

MWLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. MWLS encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.