Staff Attorney, Public Benefits

Montana Legal Services Association; Helena (MT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Montana Legal Services Association seeks a Staff Attorney to focus on Medicaid and public benefits for low-income clients across Montana. You will represent clients in administrative hearings and in federal and state court, providing advice, limited scope assistance, and full representation.

The role includes interviewing and advising eligible clients, developing Montana Medicaid expertise, collaborating with MLSA’s Medical Legal Partnership, traveling to communities, and supporting pro bono

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to Montana Bar or ability to obtain admission.
• Strong legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.
• Commitment to serving low-income, rural, and underserved populations.
• Willingness to assume a varied or heavy caseload.
• Ability to travel in-state and outside Montana and learn new technologies.

Responsibilities

• Interview, advise, and represent clients on Medicaid and public benefits.
• Develop knowledge of Medicaid in Montana and other public benefits.
• Provide services from brief counsel to full representation.
• Work as part of MLSA’s Medical Legal Partnership.
• Travel to community organizations for training and services to address client needs.
• Collaborate with MLSA staff to recruit and support pro bono attorneys.
• Participate in statewide initiatives and grant compliance.
• Prepare correspondence, pleadings and other documents.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Advocacy

Client counseling

Communication

Strategic case management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Job description

This Staff Attorney position will focus on Medicaid issues and other public benefits issues for low-income clients across Montana. This attorney will provide representation to clients in matters relating to Medicaid and public benefits in both administrative hearings and federal and state court proceedings. Representation includes legal advice, limited scope assistance, and full representation.

Key Responsibilities

• Interview, advise, and represent eligible clients on civil matters relating to Medicaid and other public benefits.
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge of Medicaid in Montana, and other public benefits.

• Provide services ranging from brief counsel and advice to more extended representation on core legal issues affecting MLSA clients.
• Work as part of MLSA’s Medical Legal Partnership practice group.
• Assist with evaluation and data collection.

• Compose correspondence, pleadings and other documents.
• Research the law and prepare memoranda.
• Travel to community organizations to conduct training and provide legal services to address client needs.
• Work with other MLSA staff to recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys when appropriate.
• Participate in MLSA’s statewide initiatives and impact work and implement grant and contract requirements through casework.
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor, Director of Advocacy or MLSA Executive Director.

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor (JD) Degree.
• Admission to the Montana Bar or ability to obtain admission.
• Strong legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.
• Commitment to serving low-income, rural, and underserved populations insuring equal access to justice.
• A willingness to assume a varied case load.
• Ability and willingness to learn and integrate new technologies and methodologies to efficiently perform
• A willingness to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, the public, judges, court personnel, project partners and the

• Ability to travel in state and outside Montana, occasionally overnight.

Preferred

• At least five years’ experience in the practice of law.
• Experience with public benefits legal issues, particularly Medicaid.
• An understanding of the civil legal needs of low-income people, including the unique needs of populations that experience barriers to access to justice systems, and of effective approaches and methods for addressing those needs.
• Experience working collaboratively and empathetically with diverse groups of colleagues, firm partners, and clients who have varying cultural backgrounds, perspectives, experience, and expertise.
• Knowledge of substantive legal areas affecting low-income people.

Competencies

• Commitment to trauma-informed practices.
• Ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially with multiple timelines within a decentralized statewide law firm.
• High attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
• Skilled interpersonal communicator able to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment with statewide travel required, including to rural communities.
• Primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment, requiring regular computer use and the ability to alternate between sitting and standing at a workstation for most of the workday.
• Occasional travel to represent MLSA at national conferences.
• Occasional evening or weekend work is required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.