Staff Attorney (Piloting Four Day Work Week with 100% Pay)
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS) is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and advance the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities and empower 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. Finally, MHAS participates in impact litigation and policy work in an effort to improve the lives of people with mental health disabilities.
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 open to considering candidates who seek either part-time or full-time employment.
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, group meditations, and regular, informal staff gatherings.
MHAS is currently determining its “post-pandemic” plan. Since March 2020, all MHAS employees have been successfully working from home and MHAS foresees at least some amount of working from home continuing indefinitely. MHAS equips all employees working from home with any needed technology and other office supplies. MHAS is currently exploring having staff return to the office a minimum of two days per week at a date to be determined in 2022. All staff must be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.
FOUR DAY WORK WEEK PILOT PROGRAM:
MHAS is proud to be joining the future of work as a participant in the 2022 Four Day Week Global Pilot Program. From April 1-September 30, 2022, all full-time MHAS employees will work four, eight-hour days per week and continue to receive 100% of their full-time pay. The four-day work week has been proven to improve organization productivity and employee health, reduce gender inequality, and create a more sustainable work environment. MHAS is joining the Four Day Week Pilot Program alongside several other for-profit and non-profit organizations across the United States and is optimistic that it will permanently adopt this model at the end of the Pilot Program.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
MHAS seeks to hire an Attorney to provide free legal services to participants of Los Angeles County’s Medical-Legal Community Partnership (“MLCP”) and to individuals requesting assistance through MHAS’ General Intake line. Through both projects, MHAS assists participants with legal issues to ensure that they have the resources and support needed to achieve better health outcomes and overall well-being. The ideal candidate will be expected to respond quickly to intakes in a wide range of subject areas including 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 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.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:
- Providing competent legal assistance to clients through advice and counsel, research and writing, negotiation, administrative advocacy, and court advocacy;
- Developing expertise in a broad range of poverty law issues;
- Maintaining a caseload in an organized and efficient manner;
- Creating training materials as assigned;
- Providing technical assistance and training to stakeholders;
- Assisting with project administration;
- Participating in policy advocacy projects; and
- Assisting with other projects and tasks as identified related to MHAS’ 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 legal research skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.
- Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work well with diverse social, economic, and ethnic groups.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Spanish language fluency or proficiency helpful but not required.
2. Experience advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION:
Mental Health Advocacy Services seeks to fill all positions with people who share our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage all interested individuals to apply - especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people experiencing mental health and/or physical disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary; immigrants; people who have been affected by mass incarceration; and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We believe that the resulting diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness.
APPLICATION PROCESS: View full job announcement at https://www.mhas-la.org/employment-opportunities. Submit the following to info@mhas-la.org (state “Employment Application” in subject line):
- Resume;
- Writing Sample; and
- Cover letter discussing any and/or all of the following:
- your motivation for seeking the position,
- your interest in working with people with mental health disabilities,
- how you meet the minimum qualifications, and/or
- how your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, have prepared you to contribute to our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
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.