Elder Law Unit Staff Attorney

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 a staff attorney for its Elder Law Unit (ELU). The ELU provides legal help to socially and/or economically vulnerable older adults as prioritized under the Older Americans Act. This attorney will be based in its Hyannis office serving older adults on the Cape and Islands. The ELU provides a wide range of legal help to older adults. The attorney will advise and represent clients at various stages of administrative appeal for Medicare, MassHealth, Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other state and federal benefits. The attorney will advise and represent nursing facility residents about their rights and in discharge hearings. The attorney will have significant client contact and maintain an active caseload. This position also involves engagement with the community, such as working closely with elder services agencies and conducting outreach to the community.

Responsibilities include:

1. Providing high quality zealous legal representation, counsel and/or advice;
2. Participating in, or conducting, community education and outreach;
3. Participating in team meetings;
4. Identifying and participating in impact advocacy projects;
5. Engaging in continuous learning about legal topics impacting socially and/or economically vulnerable older adults; and
6. Participating in other program activities to further organizational goals and mission.

Qualifications:

1. Admitted in MA or eligible for admission;
2. Excellent legal research and writing skills;
3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
4. Excellent organizational, time management and case management skills;
5. Demonstrated commitment or experience working with older adults, including working with diverse communities and clients experiencing poverty, trauma or discrimination;
6. Ability to work independently and as a team member; goal and detail oriented with ability to prioritize; ability to be flexible and multi-task
7. Ability to engage effectively in person and remotely with people from diverse cultures, diverse opinions and values, including staff, volunteers, students, community members and funders;
8. Creativity in using the law to meet the needs of clients and communities; and
9. Fluency in a second language which reflects our client communities (especially Spanish and Portuguese, but also Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer, among others) preferred.

Salaries are based on a collective bargaining agreement scale range of $79,177.50 – $121,095.00 with yearly standard increases, and an annual increment for demonstrated language skills. Generous benefits package includes health and dental with supplemental coverage, life insurance, disability, flexible spending account, 403(b), and loan forgiveness. Generous paid leave includes sick, vacation, personal, and holidays.

Fluency in a second language which reflects our client communities (especially Spanish and Portuguese, but also Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer, among others) preferred.