Description

The Opportunity: The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) seeks a dynamic and creative attorney with a strong commitment to economic, racial, and social justice to join MLRI’s Economic Justice unit. This is an opportunity to be part of the resistance to federal cuts by helping lead legislative and administrative advocacy and impact litigation to improve and protect access to critical safety net programs in Massachusetts and nationally, including but not limited to SNAP and cash assistance.

MLRI’s Mission and Work: Founded in 1968, MLRI is a nationally-recognized statewide anti-poverty law and policy center. We fight for economic, racial and social justice in the state house and the courthouse, in state and federal administrative agencies, and in Congress. We work in close partnership with community groups and people with lived experience of poverty and economic and racial injustice. For more information see MLRI.org.

About Our Economic Justice Practice: Economic Justice advocates are SNAP and cash benefit experts and respected leaders in Massachusetts and nationally. We are a collaborative team of experienced advocates with a proven track record of advancing justice for very low-income people.

A few examples of MLRI’s work:

•         Leadership. We lead the statewide SNAP Coalition, co-lead legislative campaigns, influence national advocacy conversations, and pursue changes directly with state and federal policy makers.
•         Legislation. Nationally and in the Northeast Region, we co-lead advocacy opposing harsh cuts to SNAP and TANF. In Massachusetts, in collaboration with partner organizations, we secured repeal of the state’s welfare "family cap" and raised cash assistance benefits by 45%, prohibited “school meal shaming” practices, and required the state to make it simpler for eligible families to access benefits.
•         Litigation. In the past decade, we have secured class-wide prospective relief and nearly $20 million in back benefits for over 47,000 low-income households in a series of SNAP lawsuits.
•         Policy advocacy. MLRI has led the way in Massachusetts and nationally in reducing red tape and barriers to accessing public benefits, maximizing benefit amounts for vulnerable low-income households, and simplifying application and enrollment processes to help eligible families and individuals get - and stay - connected to SNAP and cash assistance.

Responsibilities:

Work closely and collaboratively with the Economic Justice unit to:

•       Identify, develop, and implement legislative and administrative advocacy and litigation strategies to improve and protect safety net programs in Massachusetts and nationally.
•       Provide legal and technical support to legislators, policymakers, local legal services programs, and other advocacy and community organizations.
•       Help build and lead coalitions of community and grassroots organizations.
•       Respond to and work with the media on SNAP, cash benefits, and other poverty law issues.
•       Develop and lead workshops and trainings for lawyers and community advocates.
•       Write amicus briefs, regulatory comments, reports, policy briefs and advocacy manuals, as well as advocacy and educational materials for advocates, policymakers, clients, community members and other key stakeholders.
•       Represent MLRI policy interests in public forums, including legislative and rulemaking hearings and on statewide task forces.

Qualifications:

•       J.D. and licensed (or eligible to become licensed) to practice law in Massachusetts.
•       At least 5 to 10 years of relevant legal experience, which could include experience in direct legal services, administrative law, impact litigation, legislative advocacy, and/or policy advocacy with state and/or federal administrative agencies.
•       Commitment to MLRI’s mission to serve low-income and marginalized populations and to advance an anti-racist, community-driven advocacy agenda.
•       Outstanding writing, legal research, and oral advocacy skills.
•       Ability to develop and lead litigation and statewide policy advocacy initiatives, think creatively and strategically, and exercise good judgment.
•       Ability to work confidently and carefully, both independently and as part of a team.
•       Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships outside of MLRI.
•       Ability to flourish in a fast paced, non-bureaucratic work culture that values innovative solutions.

Preferred Qualifications:

•       Experience working with or on behalf of people and communities in poverty.
•       Knowledge, whether personal or professional, of safety net public benefits programs, especially in Massachusetts.
•       Experience with a practice area that intersects with safety net programs such as child support, subsidized child care, child welfare, or unemployment compensation.
•       Experience organizing or participating in coalitions of community and grassroots organizations.

Salary and Benefits:

•       MLRI offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. MLRI provides a very generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan employer contribution of 5%, as well as vacation, holiday, winter recess and family leave.
•       MLRI’s Staff Attorney salaries are based on salary scale range and are commensurate with skills and years of relevant post-JD attorney experience. For example, the approximate annual salary range  for an applicant with 5-10 years of experience is $70,000- $105,000.
•       MLRI is currently operating on a hybrid schedule and is committed to a fair and equitable workplace that promotes work-life balance.

Applications:

•       To apply, please email a cover letter, resume and a legal writing sample to: humanresources@mlri.org.  
•       Rolling application process: Application materials will be reviewed and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis; interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit application materials promptly.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

MLRI is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women and non-binary people, immigrants, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, people with lived experience of poverty, and people from other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. MLRI does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital or parental status, citizenship, disability, or record of arrest or conviction.