Legal Advocate (Attorney or Paralegal)

The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) seeks a paralegal or attorney to work on advocacy projects and collaborate with staff to advance the work of the office in defending the rights of people with mental health concerns.

The person hired into this position will join multiple advocacy project teams assembled to address systemic issues that staff believe negatively affect significant numbers in our client population, which typically involve discrimination or other forms of mistreatment. Job duties will span the full continuum of tasks that move a litigation, legislative or administrative advocacy campaign forward from inception to conclusion, including outreach and community engagement, legal or social science research, investigation, drafting, and oral advocacy.

MHLAC is a state agency of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Created by the legislature in 1973, it offers free legal assistance to indigent people with mental health challenges throughout the Commonwealth. MHLAC’s experienced and talented staff focuses on identifying and addressing issues faced by significant numbers of clients in common, often in cooperation with other advocacy organizations or community groups. Approaches to solving client problems depend on the issue itself and the best strategy for accomplishing results. Tactics include class-based and targeted individual litigation, as well as legislative, administrative, and public advocacy.

MHLAC also serves as a statewide resource on mental health law and policy. It generates legal and policy materials, testifies on proposed laws and regulations, and has a long history of providing educational and training programs for public counsel, legal services attorneys, social workers, judges, and the general public. See http://mhlac.org/what-we-do/ for a description of MHLAC’s approach and work.

Title:Advocate

Full/PartTime:FullTime

PositionType:Non-CivilService/Staff

Confidential:Yes

• SalaryRange:$3,099.29-$4,636.76 bi-weekly (or $80,581.54-$120,555.76 annually, should you remain in our employ for at least 12 full months),commensuratewithexperienceandqualifications
• Benefits:StrongpackageincludesaccesstoMassachusetts’excellentretirement plan for State employees
• OfficeLocation: 100 Hancock Street, Suite 1002, Quincy, MA 02171

Worklocation:Quincy, MA

Website:www.mhlac.org

Deadline:SubmissionsreceivedafterOctober 30, 2026,maynotbeconsidered

Start Date: December 1, 2026

References and writing samples will be requested of finalists. A criminal background check will be completed for the selected candidate in compliance with state policy.

How to Apply

Please submit resume and cover letter via email or mail to:

Ms. Beth Heinrich

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

100 Hancock Street, Suite 1002

Quincy, MA 02171

[email protected]

ATTN: Legal Advocate

In the subject of the email, please include Legal Advocate.

The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As the representative of the Commonwealth and its residents, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee strives to ensure that those working in our office reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. The Committee encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions. We will gladly assist applicants who need reasonable accommodation.

·Ambitiontomakepositivechangehappenforsignificantnumbersofclientsby undertaking the most potentially effective strategies available;

·Abilitytoworkefficientlyandmulti-task;

·Abilitytoworkeffectivelyandcollaborativelywithclientsandco-workersunder sometimes stressful circumstances;

·Experienceinthedeliveryoflegalservicestoindigentpersonspreferred;

·Experiencewithpersonswithmentalhealthissuesand/orinstitutionalizedpersons preferred;

·Bachelor’sdegreerequired;

·Ability to communicate in a language used by significant numbers of potential clients preferred;

·Willingnesstotravelindependently within Massachusetts required

Duties

• ·Advocateonbehalfofindigentadults,adolescentsandchildrenwhohaveorare perceived to have mental health concerns on a range of civil legal matters;
• ·Interactandcollaboratewithcommunitygroupsandothersthatalsoareconcerned about the rights of persons with mental health concerns;
• ·Identifyandinterviewpersons,andotherwiseinvestigatesystemicpublicandprivate practices negatively impacting a substantial numbers of clients;
• ·Engageinlitigationorpursueotheradvocacy approaches, including legislative, administrative, or public advocacy;
• ·Participatein collective officeprocesses, including those fordeterminingadvocacyprioritiesandcasestrategies.
• ·Handle such other tasks that are deemed necessary by supervisorial staff to move the work of MHLAC forward.