Staff Attorney Fellow

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kansas Health System's KU School of Law Medical Legal Partnership seeks a Staff Attorney Fellow to assist low-income patients with civil legal issues affecting health. This full-time, limited-term role is on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, KS, with in-person work and a negotiable hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities include conducting applications and direct representation (70%), building health-provider referrals (20%), and other duties (10%).

Qualifications

• Eligible to practice law in Kansas (license or temporary permit/certification)
• Current KU Law 3L/upcoming KU Law graduate or recent KU Law graduate (Class of 2026/2025)

Responsibilities

• Conduct applications with and provide direct legal representation to clients impacting health
• Supervise and mentor law students in direct representation
• Teach supervising of student intern work related to applications for services
• Foster relationships with health providers to raise awareness and facilitate referrals
• Other duties and special projects as assigned

Skills

Oral advocacy

Excellent writing

Interpersonal skills

Public service

Education

Law degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Client management software

Job description

Position Overview

The staff and law students at the KU School of Law Medical Legal Partnership at the University of Kansas Health System (“MLP”) provide free legal representation in income supports, housing, education and employment, legal status, and personal and family stability to patients and clients who are from low-income communities; those who have mental health needs; those who are members of marginalized or vulnerable identities; or any combination thereof. The MLP staff and law students work collaboratively with health care partners to provide legal care that improves health at the patient, clinic, and population levels. This position is a regular, full-time, limited term position to end August 10, 2029, benefits-eligible position located on the KU Medical Center main hospital campus in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Staff Attorney Fellow position provides an opportunity for a new or recent law graduate to assist clients with a wide variety of civil legal issues that present barriers to health outcomes. This highly transactional position will work directly with applicants, clients, and healthcare providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for a high-needs client population. In addition, the Staff Attorney Fellow will work in collaboration with the MLP Managing Attorney to supervise law student work.

Job Description

(70%) Conduct applications with and provide direct legal representation to clients with legal needs impacting their health. Supervise, train, and mentor law students enrolled in the MLP externship experience in their direct legal representation of clients. Serve as a teaching assistant to the Managing Attorney, especially with regard to supervision of student intern work involving conducting applications for services.

(20%) Foster relationships with new and existing health providers to raise awareness of patient-client legal needs and facilitate referrals to the MLP for patients. Maintain relationships throughout the course of direct legal representation.

(10%) Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Position Requirements

1. Ability to work full-time in Kansas City, Kansas in an administrative office within a hospital health setting. Position is in-person but hybrid schedule can be negotiated.

Required Qualifications

1. Eligible to practice law in the state of Kansas (license or temporary permit/certification to practice law pending bar results or a reciprocal state license for application for the Kansas Bar)
2. Current KU Law 3L/upcoming KU Law graduate (Dec 2026, May 2027) or recent KU Law graduate (Class of 2026 or 2025)

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Participation in the MLP field placement at KU Law.
2. Demonstrated commitment to public service, advocacy, and social justice as detailed in your resume and application materials.
3. Excellent computer and word processing skills using Microsoft Office suite and commercial client management software as evidenced in application materials.
4. Demonstrated experience working with people from low-income communities, people with mental health needs, those who are from vulnerable patient-client identities, or any combination thereof as detailed in your resume and application materials.
5. Strong communication and interpersonal skills; excellent oral advocacy and writing skills.
6. Law license to practice (or bar exam score eligibility to apply) in Missouri.
7. Second-language fluency in one or more of the following languages commonly spoken by our applicant and client populations: Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, Somali, or Burmese.

Advertised Salary Range$72,000/year

Application Review BeginsMonday August 10, 2026

Anticipated Start DateMonday August 2, 2027