Staff Attorney, High Quality for All Students Education Project – MWLS
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:
- Through direct legal representation and impact work, challenge and remove systemic barriers that impede students from low-income families from obtaining a high-quality education.
- Represent the parents of children with special needs in all phases of special education and school discipline cases.
- Conduct outreach and work closely with community and parent groups of school-aged children to identify areas where systemic advocacy to improve educational services is needed.
Qualifications/Competencies include:
- Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations.
- Experience representing clients in special education proceedings and school disciplinary cases preferred.
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti-bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression.
- Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work collaboratively.
- Bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese helpful.
- One to three years of legal experience preferred. Admitted to Massachusetts bar or entitled to practice under SJC Rule 3:04.
**An applicant who is admitted to the bar of another state must become a member of the Mass. bar within 2 years.
Salary/Benefits: Salary is based on a union scale with a starting wage of $60,000. 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: Candidates should submit a cover letter addressing your interest and experience in poverty/public interest law, resume, and brief writing sample via email to jobs@mwlegal.org. Applicant 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.
