Staff Attorney - Project RAFT

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.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

MHAS seeks to hire a Staff Attorney to provide free legal services to individuals with mental health disabilities who have experienced incarceration via Project RAFT (Reentry Advocacy for a Fresh Tomorrow). This project was established to combat employment barriers specifically for individuals who are or who have been in the criminal justice system and are experiencing mental health challenges. Project RAFT will help clients overcome barriers to reentry by providing legal services and advocacy in the areas of post-conviction relief, including expungements, as well as ancillary civil legal issues creating barriers to reentry, including traffic ticket advocacy, access to employment and housing, and criminal justice debt.

The ideal candidate will be expected to respond quickly to clients needing legal services primarily in post-conviction relief, but also at times in a range of other subject areas including mental health law, housing, employment, public benefits, and consumer finance. Other responsibilities will include implementing and supervising quarterly legal clinics hosted with various partner organizations to screen clinic participants for expungement eligibility. 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:

1. Providing competent legal assistance to clients through advice and counsel, research and writing, negotiation, administrative advocacy, and court advocacy;
2. Developing expertise in post-conviction relief;
3. Maintaining a caseload in an organized and efficient manner;
4. Creating training materials as assigned;
5. Providing technical assistance and training to volunteers and stakeholders;
6. Coordinating with our partner organizations and assisting with project administration;
7. Participating in policy advocacy projects; and
8. Assisting with other projects and tasks as identified related to MHAS’ mission.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. J.D. degree and membership in California State Bar.
2. Commitment and sensitivity to the rights of people with mental health disabilities and other vulnerable populations.
3. Excellent legal research skills.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills with attention to detail.
5. Excellent organizational skills.
6. Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and meet deadlines.
7. Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.
8. Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work well with diverse social, economic, and ethnic groups.

FRINGE BENEFITS AND WORK CULTURE:

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. After completing a six-month trial of a four-day work week in 2022, MHAS found what almost all other companies that have moved to a four day work week have found: the four-day work week improves organization productivity and employee health, reduces gender inequality, and creates a more sustainable work environment. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four, eight-hour days per week. Candidates seeking part-time employment may also apply. The MHAS office is closed on Fridays.

Other benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking/transit fare reimbursement.

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 attorneys work remotely with access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with needed technology and other office supplies. The Staff Attorney will be required to live in the Los Angeles area, conduct in-person work at partner organization sites on a quarterly basis for expungement eligibility screening legal clinics, and occasionally attend in-person meetings as needed.

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 AND DEADLINE: View full job announcement at Employment Opportunities — Mental Health Advocacy Services. Submit the following to info@mhas-la.org (state “Employment Application” in subject line):

1. Resume; and
2. 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.

FRINGE BENEFITS AND WORK CULTURE:

On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. After completing a six-month trial of a four-day work week in 2022, MHAS found what almost all other companies that have moved to a four day work week have found: the four-day work week improves organization productivity and employee health, reduces gender inequality, and creates a more sustainable work environment. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four, eight-hour days per week. Candidates seeking part-time employment may also apply. The MHAS office is closed on Fridays.

Other benefits include paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave; employee health, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance; and parking/transit fare reimbursement.

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 attorneys work remotely with access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with needed technology and other office supplies. The Staff Attorney will be required to live in the Los Angeles area, conduct in-person work at partner organization sites on a quarterly basis for expungement eligibility screening legal clinics, and occasionally attend in-person meetings as needed.