Legal Advocate

The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) seeks a paralegal or attorney to work on advocacy projects and collaborate with staff to advance the work of the office in defending the rights of people with mental health concerns.

The person hired into this position will join multiple advocacy project teams assembled to address systemic issues that staff believe negatively affect significant numbers in our client population, which typically involve discrimination or other forms of mistreatment. Job duties will span the full continuum of tasks that move a litigation, legislative or administrative advocacy campaign forward from inception to conclusion, including outreach and community engagement, legal or social science research, investigation, drafting, and oral advocacy.

MHLAC is a state agency of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Created by the legislature in 1973, it offers free legal assistance to indigent people with mental health challenges throughout the Commonwealth. MHLAC’s experienced and talented staff focuses on identifying and addressing issues faced by significant numbers of clients in common, often in cooperation with other advocacy organizations or community groups. Approaches to solving client problems depend on the issue itself and the best strategy for accomplishing results. Tactics include class-based and targeted individual litigation, as well as legislative, administrative, and public advocacy.

MHLAC also serves as a statewide resource on mental health law and policy. It generates legal and policy materials, testifies on proposed laws and regulations, and has a long history of providing educational and training programs for public counsel, legal services attorneys, social workers, judges, and the general public. See http://mhlac.org/what-we-do/ for a description of MHLAC’s approach and work.

In making strategic work choice decisions, priority is given to issues affecting persons with multiple characteristics that expose them to bias (e.g., persons of color who have or are perceived to have mental health concerns). This is consistent with workplace values. MHLAC is committed to creating an inclusive environment that promotes and values racial equity and diversity. We strongly encourage and welcome people of color, people with disabilities, those with personal experience related to mental health concerns, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds to apply.

Title: Advocate

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Position Type: Non-Civil Service/ Staff

Confidential: Yes

Salary Range: $3,099.29-$4,636.76 bi-weekly (or $80,581.54-$120,555.76 annually, should you remain in our employ for at least 12 full months), commensurate with experience and qualifications

Benefits: Strong package includesaccess to Massachusetts’ excellent retirement plan for State employees

Office Location: 100 Hancock Street, Suite 1002, Quincy, MA 02171

Work location: Quincy, MA

Website: www.mhlac.org

Deadline: Submissions receivedafter October 30, 2026, may not be considered

Start Date: December 1, 2026

Qualifications

• Ambition to make positive change happen for significant numbersof clients by undertaking the most potentially effective strategies available;
• Ability to work efficiently and multi-task;
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with clients and co-workers under sometimes stressful circumstances;
• Experience in the deliveryof legal servicesto indigent personspreferred;
• Experience with personswith mental health issues and/or institutionalized persons preferred;
• Bachelor’s degree required;
• Ability to communicate in a language used by significant numbers of potential clients preferred;
• Willingness to travel independently within Massachusetts required

Duties

• Advocate on behalf of indigent adults,adolescents and childrenwho have or are perceived to have mental health concerns on a range of civil legal matters;
• Interact and collaborate with community groupsand others that also are concerned about the rights of persons with mental health concerns;
• Identify and interview persons,and otherwise investigate systemic public and private practices negatively impacting a substantial numbers of clients;
• Engage in litigation or pursue other advocacy approaches, including legislative, administrative, or public advocacy;
• Participate in collective office processes, including those fordetermining advocacy priorities and case strategies.
• Handle such other tasks that are deemed necessary by supervisorial staff to move the work of MHLAC forward.

MHLAC runs on a hybrid work basis. Office staff are encouraged to work together in person but are permitted to work from remote (home) locations for much of the work week.

References and writing samples will be requested of finalists. A criminal background check will be completed for the selected candidate in compliance with state policy.

How to Apply:

Please submit resume and cover letter via email or mail to:

Ms. Beth Heinrich

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

100 Hancock Street, Suite 1002

Quincy, MA 02171

hiring@mhlac.org

ATTN: Legal Advocate

In the subject of the email, please include Legal Advocate.

The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As the representative of the Commonwealth and its residents, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee strives to ensure that those working in our office reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. The Committee encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions. We will gladly assist applicants who need reasonable accommodation.

Strong package includesaccess to Massachusetts’ excellent retirement plan for State employees

Ability to communicate in Spanish or Haitian Creole (in addition to English) a plus