Description du poste
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of low-income adults and children with mental health disabilities. We empower our clients to assert their rights, maximize their autonomy, achieve equity, and secure the resources they need to thrive in our communities. MHAS advocates on behalf of people of all ages, 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. Additionally, MHAS participates in impact litigation and policy work to improve the lives of people with mental health disabilities. JOB DESCRIPTION: MHAS seeks to hire either a Senior or Staff Attorney to lead MHAS’s Self-Help Clinic Project in partnership with the Los Angeles County Mental Health Court, located at Norwalk Courthouse. Through this Clinic, the attorney will provide Court-approved information and resources about Mental Health Court proceedings to litigants and other members of the public who are not currently in custody. The attorney will also offer information and resources on a range of ancillary civil legal issues with a goal of helping litigants achieve greater overall stability. Attorneys with fewer than four years of experience may be considered for the position of Staff Attorney. Attorneys with four or more years of experience may be considered for the position of Senior Attorney, which handles similar cases but with an expectation that the Senior Attorney will be able to handle cases independently that require a higher level of expertise and experience, and an expectation that the Senior Attorney will provide legal training and technical assistance to other MHAS staff. The ideal candidate will be expected to respond quickly to legal referrals from the Mental Health Court and other Court partners in a wide range of subject areas, including conservatorships, housing, public benefits, consumer finance, tickets and expungement, and mental health. This position will focus on providing legal information and appropriate referrals in these subject areas. Due to the self-help nature of the Clinic, this position will not provide strategic legal advice or representation to litigants who interact with the Clinic. However, opportunities to provide more extensive services under other MHAS projects may be available. Other responsibilities will include facilitating meetings with Court partner agencies and providing legal training and technical assistance to said agencies as needed. 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: Providing competent legal information and referrals to litigants, their family members, and other members of the public; Developing expertise in a broad range of poverty law and mental health law issues; Maintaining a high-volume workload in an organized and efficient manner (for Senior Attorneys, including cases that require a high level of legal expertise and experience); Facilitating meetings with Court partner agencies and providing technical assistance and training to staff at court partner agencies; Assisting with project administration and reporting; Participating in policy advocacy projects as requested; For Senior Attorneys, providing substantive expertise, guidance, and training to the entire MHAS legal services team; and Assisting with other projects and tasks as identified related to MHAS’s mission. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: J.D. degree and active membership in the California State Bar. To be considered for Senior Attorney, 4+ years of attorney experience. Commitment and sensitivity to the rights of people with mental health disabilities and other vulnerable populations. Capacity to maintain a trauma-informed approach consistently despite the challenges associated with serving clients under acute and/or chronic stress. Excellent legal research skills. Excellent oral and written communication skills with attention to detail. Excellent organizational skills including ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and meet deadlines. Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work well with diverse social, economic, and ethnic groups. Ability to collaborate with and support fellow members of the MHAS team. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: Spanish language fluency or proficiency helpful but not required. Experience advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations. LOCATION & SCHEDULE: This is a hybrid position. While most work can be done remotely, and there are no regularly-scheduled in-office days for the position, the Attorney will be required to be onsite once a week at the Norwalk Courthouse . Additionally, the Attorney may occasionally be required to attend in-person meetings at the MHAS office in Glendale, at partner organizations and/or other locations. All MHAS staff have access to the MHAS headquarters office as needed. MHAS equips all employees working from home with necessary technology and other office supplies. The Self-Help Clinic Attorney will be required to live in the Los Angeles area. FOUR DAY WORK WEEK, FRINGE BENEFITS, & WORK CULTURE: On January 1, 2023, MHAS proudly and permanently adopted a four-day work week. All full-time MHAS employees, including this position, work four eight-hour days per week. 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 mileage, parking, and 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. 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 living with 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 strongly value lived experience with homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or economic instability. We believe that diversity is both a source of program strength and a matter of fundamental human fairness. APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. View full job announcement at Employment Opportunities — Mental Health Advocacy Services . Submit the following to info@mhas-la.org (state “Employment Application-Self-Help Clinic Attorney” in subject line): Resume; and Cover letter discussing any and/or all of the following: how you heard about the position, 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 sta