Mental Health Law Project Staff Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEY

MENTAL HEALTH LAW PROJECT

Mobilization for Justice, a non-profit legal services organization that provides a wide range of free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers, is seeking a staff attorney to join its Mental Health Law Project. The Mental Health Law Project focuses primarily on eviction prevention; ensuring income stability by obtaining and maintaining government benefits, including health benefits; and addressing discrimination against people with mental health disabilities. The staff attorney will provide advice, advocacy, and representation for people with mental health disabilities who are having housing, government benefits, and other civil legal problems.

MFJ’s mission is to achieve justice for all. MFJ prioritizes the needs of people who are low-income, disenfranchised, or have disabilities as they struggle to overcome the effects of social injustice and systemic racism. We provide the highest-quality free, direct civil legal assistance, conduct community education and build partnerships, engage in policy advocacy, and bring impact litigation. We assist more than 14,000 New Yorkers each year, benefiting over 24,000. MFJ has a staff of more than 165 attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and support staff. It is a diverse, unionized, and collegial workplace where staff share the organization’s mission to achieve social justice.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting client intakes in person, on the telephone, or at off-site clinics, including clubhouses, outpatient clinics and hospitals.
• Conducting factual investigations, including site visits.
• Providing clients with advice, brief service and/or advocacy, and representation.
• Researching, writing, and litigating all phases of cases including pleadings, motions, discovery, briefs, hearings, trials and appeals.
• Appearing for clients in Housing Court, Supreme Court, Civil Court, Federal Court and administrative agencies, including NYCHA, HPD, DHCR, HRA, OTDA and SSA.
• Identifying, developing, and commencing impact litigation or policy initiatives to address problems affecting people with mental health disabilities.
• Conducting community outreach and trainings.
• Training mental health providers and other community-based service providers on substantive law and the rights of people with mental health disabilities.
• Engaging in legislative advocacy and lobbying on issues of importance to people with mental health disabilities.
• Working in coalition with advocacy groups on policy issues.
• Providing testimony on proposed legislation or other legislative body topics.
• Inputting and maintaining records in MFJ’s case management system.
• Notarizing your clients’ court or other documents as necessary.

Requirements:

1. Admission to the New York State Bar.
2. Experience or demonstrated interest in working with people with mental health disabilities.
3. Two years of experience in housing court or working on government benefits issues.
4. Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Haitian Creole, French, Bangla, Arabic, or Urdu.

Salary is pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement with excellent fringe benefits. The salary

range for this position is $79,000.00 to $133,499.66.

Applicants should email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to recruitment@mfjlegal.org with “Mental Health Law Project Staff Attorney Fall 2024” in the subject line. We encourage all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how their background or experience might contribute to the diversity and perspective of our office. Please indicate where you saw this ad. No telephone calls please.

For further information about MFJ, please go to www.mobilizationforjustice.org.

MFJ IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, national origin, citizen status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. BIPOC, women, people with disabilities, and LBGTQIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply.