Family Preservation Staff Attorney – MWLS
MetroWest Legal Services aims to provide legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of the poor, elderly, disabled and other disenfranchised people and to assist them in obtaining legal, social and economic justice. MWLS is an exciting workplace with dedicated social justice advocates—join us!
Responsibilities include:
- Launch a new pilot project to provide civil legal aid to families at risk of removal and separation by Department of Children and Families (DCF).
- Represent clients in child welfare-related civil legal matters to prevent out-of-home placement of children or reunify children with their families, thereby increasing client choice, safety, and family preservation.
- Educate clients about their legal options so they can be empowered to make their own informed decisions, with the goal of minimizing the risk of outcomes that jeopardize child safety and wellbeing.
- Liaison with Department of Children and Families (DCF), schools, community partners, and mental health providers to provide wrap around services to stabilize families in crisis.
- Advocate for clients and their children in collateral legal matters such as housing, benefits, special education, and immigration.
- Performs additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications/Competencies include:
- Admitted to Massachusetts bar (or a bar of another state**).
- Two plus years’ experience in providing legal services preferred; with a focus on representing survivors of domestic violence, individuals with substance use disorders, or individuals with mental health diagnosis preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to clients that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Prior experience interviewing and counseling survivors of trauma or individuals with mental health conditions preferred.
- Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic groups, as well as diversity based on ability/disability, sexual orientation and religion.
- Spoken fluency in a second language (Spanish or Portuguese) preferred. Language competencies will be tested during the interview process.
- Excellent writing and oral advocacy skills. Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
- Fully vaccinated pursuant to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
- 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: Salary is based on a union scale with a base wage of $60,000 plus experience credit if applicable. Benefits package include generous PTO leave, 100% employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, employer match on retirement contributions, student loan repayment assistance program for eligible attorneys and extensive professional development opportunities.
To Apply: Email a cover letter addressing your interest and experience in poverty/public interest law, resume, and writing sample to MetroWest Legal Services, at jobs@mwlegal.org. Please send and attach PDFs only. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
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.
