Description

The Opportunity: 

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) seeks an experienced attorney to lead its statewide child welfare advocacy.  The attorney will lead and support strategic campaigns to prevent children and parents from entering the MA child welfare system and to create a well-resourced community-based system of support so Massachusetts children and families can thrive without involuntary state intervention.  In addition, the attorney will support the statewide MA Family Preservation Project (FPP) by providing technical assistance, trainings and other forms of substantive support to project attorneys and other advocates in civil legal services programs across the state who are representing families involved in or at risk of involvement in the child welfare system.  This position will report to the Deputy Director of Advocacy/Supervising Attorney of the Families & Children practice group.

About MLRI:

Founded in 1968, MLRI is a nationally recognized nonprofit poverty law and policy center that provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities. We pursue systems change through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, coalition building, community lawyering, and other strategies that address systemic harm to low-income people. MLRI is also the statewide multi-issue poverty law support center for the Massachusetts civil legal aid delivery system; our advocates provide substantive expertise and technical assistance to frontline legal aid field program advocates and to many other advocates and providers who serve low-income people and communities in Massachusetts. See www.mlri.org

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead MLRI’s statewide child welfare/regulatory system policy advocacy, through legislative and administrative advocacy, litigation, coalition building, working with community groups and individuals with lived expertise, and trainings.  
• Support the MA Family Preservation Project (FPP), including facilitating monthly workshops and trainings, answering substantive questions from project attorneys related to DCF policies/practices/regulations, managing the FPP listserv, providing guidance and technical assistance on data collection.
• Help drive racial justice advocacy in the child welfare/regulatory system in Massachusetts and integrate a race equity lens connecting the child welfare/regulatory system with other substantive areas of advocacy. 
• Lead, engage in or support law reform litigation in the child welfare area.
• Provide or update child welfare related content as needed for external legal information websites (e.g., MassLegalHelp.org, MassLegalServices.org).
• Work with the Massachusetts child welfare coalition to identify long-standing and emerging issues and strategize solutions to advance a collective agenda.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with community-based groups and individuals with personal experiences with the child welfare/regulatory system to inform and direct MLRI’s work and support the work of community-based partners. 
• Participate in national child welfare advocacy through the State Policy and Advocacy Resource Center (SPARC) and other groups.
• Provide client assistance to child welfare system-involved individuals. 
• Assist with financial and other resource development including grant development.

• This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee; others may be assigned. 

Desired Experience & Qualifications:

• J.D. and admission to, or eligible for admission to, the Massachusetts bar. 
• Minimum 7 years legal experience.
• Demonstrated experience or background in child welfare law/regulatory system policy and advocacy.
• Experience working with families involved in the child welfare/family system and interacting with the Department of Child and Families (DCF) and with the Court system especially Care and Protection Cases.
• Experience in supporting other advocates through training, provision of information, consultation, and other forms of technical assistance. 
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to racial justice advocacy including an ability to confront, identify, and develop strategies to dismantle structural racism, bias, and oppression.
• Ability to lead diverse groups effectively and prioritize responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people living in poverty, people of color, people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, individuals involved with the child welfare/regulatory system, or community-based organizations and coalitions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, listening, research and writing skills.
• Ability to think and act strategically, creatively, and collaboratively. 
• Bold and creative thinker with a passion for advocacy to change the child welfare/regulatory system. 
• Commitment to MLRI’s mission to serve low-income and marginalized populations and to advance an anti-racist, community-driven child welfare advocacy agenda.

Salary and Benefits:

       MLRI offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.

• MLRI provides a very generous benefits including health, dental, vision, life, and

disability insurance, 403(b) employer match, 403(b) plan employer contribution of 5% after 6 months of employment, as well as vacation, holiday, and family leave.

• MLRI’s Staff Attorney salaries are based on scale and are commensurate with skills and years of relevant post-JD attorney experience. For example, for this position the annual salary range is $70,000 -$91,800 depending on applicant level of experience. Internal equity considerations and average salary of the peer range will be reviewed and taken into consideration. MLRI is currently operating on a hybrid schedule.

How to Apply:

To apply, please email a cover letter, resume and a legal writing sample with “Child Welfare Attorney” in the subject line to: humanresources@mlri.org  In your cover letter, please describe your relevant experience with the child welfare/regulatory system and your understanding of the role that racial justice plays in effective child welfare advocacy, and/or that child welfare advocacy plays in achieving racial justice.  

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application materials promptly.

MLRI’S Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:

MLRI seeks to create a team that reflects our organizational values of justice, equity, and community. This includes hiring staff with connections to the communities we serve whenever possible. We believe that having a staff, board, and volunteers from diverse personal backgrounds enhances our ability to fulfill our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community are reflected in our advocacy. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, immigrants, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with lived experience of poverty, and people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.