Language Access and Equity Fellow

Deadline for Submission:

This is a one-year position. Application materials will be reviewed, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Interested and qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.

The Position:

MLRI is seeking a Language Access & Equity Fellow to support our Language Access Project. Language access is an access to justice issue and a growing, and pressing need in Massachusetts. For limited English proficient (LEP) and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) communities to thrive in our state, it is imperative that they have access to clear, accurate, and intelligible information. Lack of proper interpretation and translation is a widespread systemic barrier that prevents individuals who are LEP or D/HH from accessing the civil legal system, courts, or administrative agencies, from accessing basic benefits and services, from knowing and exercising their legal rights and privileges, and from participating in fair and efficient judicial and administrative processes. The Fellow will report directly to MLRI’s Statewide Language Access Attorney.

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 impact litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, coalition building, community lawyering, and other strategies that address systemic harm to low-income people. MLRI’s approach is grounded in a racial justice and an anti-racist framework and uses community-driven and collective impact strategies to advance high-impact change. MLRI also serves as the statewide multi-issue poverty law support center for the civil legal aid delivery system; our advocates provide substantive expertise, technical assistance, and support to frontline legal aid field programs and advocates, and to many serving low-income people.

Qualifications:

• College degree or equivalent.
• Strong research and writing skills and ability to analyze complex documents/materials.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to work well on a team, prioritize responsibilities, and meet time-sensitive deadlines.
• Direct or other demonstrated meaningful experience with people living in poverty, people of color, immigrants, people with limited English proficiency, or indigenous communities, or the civil legal aid system.
• Commitment to exposing and dismantling all forms of structural racism and oppression.
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity, interest in learning and exploring different solutions, and an ability to strategically utilize various advocacy approaches.
• Proven strong cultural competency and responsiveness skills and demonstrated ability to navigate people with diverse personalities and perspectives..
• Proficiency and fluency in at least one other language is preferred.
• Knowledge of the interpretation and translation field is preferred but not required.

Core Responsibilities:

The Fellow will assist in advocacy to improve the lives of LEP and D/HH communities in MA on the local, state, and national levels by, e.g,

• Drafting and preparing oral and written legislative testimony, participating in legislative strategy sessions, and assisting in planning and execution of legislative briefings and hearings
• Coalition-building by meeting with legislators, community organizations, and community members in person, virtually, and through social media.
• Planning and presenting language access trainings to legal services offices, bar foundations, and others.
• Updating MLRI’s online legal aid and public resources, Mass Legal Services, and Mass Legal Help Language Access Sections.
• Reviewing federal and state agency language access plans and implementation.
• Participating and supporting work on language access and racial justice projects specific to the MA Trial Courts, school districts, health care providers, and any other public entities.
• Assisting in planning and executing the biennial Language Access Conference next occurring in 2028.
• Aiding in planning and facilitating regular statewide Language Access Coalition meetings and trainings with other coalitions.
• Supporting the Equity Unit in the provision of technical assistance to legal service field offices on language access issues.
• Working on equity-related policy initiatives such as legislative coalitions (the Mass Speaks, Fairness for Farmworkers, MA Digital Equity, and Protect our Civil Rights).

Salary and Benefits:

• MLRI offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment that emphasizes work-life balance.
• The salary for this one-year position is $60,000.
• MLRI provides very generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan employer contribution of 5% after 6 months of employment, as well as vacation, holiday, and family leave.
• MLRI is currently operating on a hybrid schedule.

MLRI’s Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

MLRI is an equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We believe that having a staff, board, and volunteers from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and lived experiences enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with lived experience of poverty and/or racism, and people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.

Salary and Benefits:

• MLRI offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment that emphasizes work-life balance.
• The salary for this one-year position is $60,000.
• MLRI provides very generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan employer contribution of 5% after 6 months of employment, as well as vacation, holiday, and family leave.
• MLRI is currently operating on a hybrid schedule.

• English required. Proficiency and fluency in at least one other language is preferred.
• Knowledge of the interpretation and translation field is preferred but not required.