Supervising Attorney - Benefits Unit

The Organization:

South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS), along with its subsidiary the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, is a vibrant and growing non-profit legal aid program where our core mission is to fight injustice and poverty by advocating on behalf of low-income individuals and families across Southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape, and Islands in civil matters when their basic needs are at stake. The organization prioritizes legal services in housing, public benefits, elder law, domestic relations, employment, education, immigration, and consumer matters.

With a staff of over 100, SCCLS is the principal provider of civil legal aid in the region. We operate from offices in Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Hyannis. Our team provides representation and litigation services to thousands of people each year, while also delivering a wide range of community outreach and educational programs. We seek candidates who are committed to advancing equal access to justice and opportunity through client-centered advocacy. This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, mission-driven team dedicated to delivering impactful legal services to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The Role:

SCCLS seeks to hire a Supervising Attorney to lead the advocacy staff of the Benefits Unit. The Benefits Unit provides legal advice and representation to people who need income and related supports from state and federal programs including but not limited to cash assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP or food stamps), unemployment insurance, federal disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, and Medicaid (MassHealth) and child care benefits. The Benefits Unit works often in collaboration with SCCLS’ Elder Law Unit.

The Supervising Attorney will be primarily responsible for the running of the Benefits Unit and physically located in any of the law offices of SCCLS (Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, or Hyannis). The Supervising Attorney will mentor and supervise staff attorneys and paralegal case handlers, manage intake, develop impact/affirmative litigation and systemic advocacy, coordinate and report on grant projects, and provide legal leadership in working with other staff to prioritize legal issues. The Supervising Attorney will participate in state-wide initiatives related to all government benefits. The Supervising Attorney participates in Practice-wide management discussions and decision-making and is responsible for maintaining relationships with other stakeholders in the legal, court, and service communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. In partnership with the organization’s leadership team and management, develop and implement an articulated vision for benefits advocacy that includes high quality direct legal representation and addressing underlying systemic issues;
2. Maintain a small and strategic caseload in state and federal administrative and court proceedings;
3. Effectively engage with the organization’s leadership team, advocacy staff, community groups and organizations, and the statewide community to develop and manage strategic initiatives, community needs assessments, and to respond to emerging trends and changing policies affecting benefits issues;
4. Develop, support, and oversee the systemic advocacy and litigation of the Benefits Unit;
5. Assist in developing/revising standards of practice and ensure adherence to program and case handling standards, funder requirements and the highest professional standards using regular case review and other supervision standards and practices to develop the skills of the advocacy staff and ensure their professional development;
6. Ensure advocacy staff is actively engaged with other program advocates, local community groups and organizations, and the statewide advocacy community to identify and address legal issues confronting our diverse and low income communities;
7. Collaborate and partner with SCCLS’ Elder Law Unit Supervising Attorney to accomplish the above duties and responsibilities; and
8. Work with the fellow management, Deputy Director and Executive Director to ensure grant compliance where appropriate.

Qualifications:

1. Admitted in MA or eligible for admission;
2. At least 5 years of legal practice experience with substantive expertise in benefits law and civil rights issues required;
3. Experience representing clients seeking federal disability benefits from the Social Security Administration preferred
4. Experience supervising desirable;
5. Understanding or experience with intersecting systems affecting benefits insecurity desirable;
6. Significant experience with advocacy in a variety of forums including federal, state, and appellate courts, administrative agencies, and/or legislative bodies;
7. Strong leadership and mentoring skills and a leadership style that inspires and encourages professional growth in others;
8. Demonstrated ability to identify and respond to emerging issues and policies affecting low-income clients;
9. Ability to foster inclusivity, equity and humility when working with clients, colleagues and in supervising staff at the intersection of multiple identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, religion, physical and mental disability, and/or limited English proficiency;
10. Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
11. Capacity to facilitate groups and meetings equitably with a framework that embraces equity principles;
12. Ability to engage effectively in person and remotely with people from diverse cultures, with diverse opinions and values, including with staff, volunteers, students, community members and funders;
13. Fluency in a second language which reflects our client communities (Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer) desirable.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Starting salary for the position will be $86,500 with increases based on experience and is based on a collective bargaining agreement scale enhanced for supervisory role with yearly standard increases, multi-lingual annual increment for demonstrated language skills. Benefits package: health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), loan forgiveness. Generous paid leave including sick, vacation, personal and holidays.

APPLY:

Submit letter of interest, resume and legal writing sample by email to: LThelin@sccls.org with Subject Line: SCCLS Supervising Attorney Benefits. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

South Coastal Counties Legal Services and its subsidiary are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate based on age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized