LEGAL AID STAFF ATTORNEY BENEFITS UNIT CWJC (Worcester)

Community Legal Aid; Worcester (MA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with match

Health insurance

Malpractice insurance

Paid leave

Student loan repayment

Job summary

CWJC is seeking a staff attorney to join its Worcester office to provide legal assistance in public benefits matters such as TAFDC, EAEDC, SNAP, and MassHealth. The attorney will represent clients in emergency situations, attend contested administrative hearings, and advocate in court on appeal.

The role also includes community outreach and education. The position requires collaboration, experience with diverse communities, and language skills.

Qualifications

• Experience advocating for low-income clients in public benefits or administrative agencies.
• Ability to work with diverse communities and engage in fast-paced advocacy.
• Commitment to poverty law and social justice work.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients before administrative agencies and courts on appeal.
• Handle cases in public benefits matters (TAFDC, EAEDC, SNAP, MassHealth).
• Engage in community outreach and education.

Skills

Poverty law

Public benefits advocacy

Bilingual (Spanish/Portuguese/Vietnam)

Collaborative work style

Education

Juris Doctor or equivalent

Job description

CWJC seeks a staff attorney to work in its Worcester office. The attorney will provide legal assistance in public benefits matters, including TAFDC, EAEDC, SNAP, and MassHealth. The attorney will also represent clients, who are often in emergency situations, seeking shelter and other benefits under the state's Emergency Assistance program and in that role will engage in high-stakes, fast-paced advocacy, including contested administrative hearings. In addition to handling cases before administrative agencies and in court on appeal, the attorney will engage in community outreach and education.

Qualifications

• Third year law students, recent law school graduates, and more experienced attorneys are eligible to apply.
• Demonstrated commitment to poverty law and social justice work.
• Experience working with diverse communities, strong interpersonal skills, and an ability to work in a collaborative setting are important.
• Experience advocating for low-income clients seeking public benefits and/or other administrative agency advocacy experience, including law school clinical experience, preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish, Portuguese and/or Vietnamese a plus.

Compensation

• The starting salary for this position is $73,000, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience to a maximum of $109,000.
• CWJC has a hybrid work environment and requires advocates to work in their assigned office at least three days per week.
• CWJC offers a very generous benefits package that includes:
• 401(k) with employer-paid contribution.
• Low-cost health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents.
• Malpractice insurance; paid leave (4 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, and 13 holidays).
• Student loan repayment assistance.
• Relocation stipend.

CWJC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CWJC encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

Salary: $7300 - $109000 per year