Supervising Attorney: Medical-Legal Partnership

Organization Overview:

For over 30 years, the Legal Clinic for the Disabled (LCD) has worked to empower low-income people with disabilities and the deaf and hard of hearing in the Philadelphia by providing free legal representation to overcome legal obstacles that would otherwise affect their independence, health, or quality of life. LCD is headquartered in Center City, and staff work directly with medical partners at multiple sites across Philadelphia through our Medical-Legal Partnership Initiative. Focused on addressing health-harming legal needs, our practice areas include family, housing, planning documents, public benefits, and social security law. In addition to our Medical-Legal Partnership Initiative, we conduct general telephone intake, hold Community Legal Outreach Clinics and healthcare provider trainings, and actively participate in the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project. Last year alone, LCD served over 2,000 clients, furthering our mission to foster inclusion, independence, and justice for all.

Position Overview:

The Supervising Attorney, MLP Initiative, (“MLP Supervising Attorney”) reports to the Legal Director. In coordination with the Executive Director and Legal Director, the Supervising Attorney provides leadership and structure to the Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) Initiative to ensure that LCD achieves its annual Initiative objectives and oversees LCD’s General Intake. The Supervising Attorney leads, manages, and supports staff attorneys and support staff who provide direct client representation and MLP services. The MLP Supervising attorney oversees all MLP processes, including screening and referral protocols. The Supervising Attorney is also responsible for keeping paralegals and attorneys aware of ongoing developments in statutes, regulations, government agencies, and social service resources related to LCD’s practice areas. In coordination with the Executive Director and Legal Director, the Supervising Attorney ensures that LCD has an active presence in ongoing policy and systemic work related to social determinants of health that are legal in nature and related to LCD’s mission. Additionally, the Supervising Attorney identifies areas in which LCD can expand or develop its reach within the MLP communities as well as potential new opportunities for collaboration.

Detailed Responsibilities:

Administrative:

• Oversee MLP day-to-day operations at each MLP site, including referral forms and processes, provider trainings, and staffing
• Oversee General Intake and triage of potential clients
• Manage MLP data collection, including setting uniform data points, storage, outcome measures, and client authorizations
• Coordinate with staff attorneys across sites to share best MLP practices
• Participate in grant work to determine deliverables in LCD’s MLP work and develop benchmarks to meet deliverables
• Oversees data collection, including standardization of outcome measurement;
• With the Executive Director and Legal Director, establish program benchmarks and recommend improvements; develop standards for reporting, accountability, and measuring success; and make program development recommendations

Legal Team Management:

• Working in conjunction with the Legal Director, provides day-to-day leadership and oversight of the agency’s legal work and legal team members in relation to their casework
• Regularly disseminate information to the legal team regarding substantive and procedural developments in casework; Share best practices
• Participate in regular case review with all attorneys to supervise MLP-related casework
• Coordinate with the Legal Director to assign cases to staff attorneys and jointly determine which non-housing cases LCD will take based on resources and attorney caseload
• Mentor and guide staff attorneys in case development and representation; Supervise attorneys in court
• Supervise paralegal(s) and/or support staff regarding casework and connection of clients to social services
• Oversee orientation and training of new team members
• Conduct 6 month check-ins with staff regarding MLP goals and expectations

Direct Service:

• Engage in legal work on behalf of clients and maintains a personal case load
• In coordination with the Executive Director and Legal Director, files impact litigation.

Community Involvement and Systemic Advocacy:

• Participate in annual development and oversight of LCD’s case and policy priorities
• Oversee LCD attendance at relevant Philadelphia Bar Committee monthly meetings related to social determinants of health and task force group meetings
• Attend regional MLP cohort meetings
• Submit abstracts to regional and national conferences regarding the MLP model and LCD’s MLP Initiative
• In coordination with Executive Director and Legal Director, identify systemic legal issues and/or common legal concerns to target areas for policy advocacy and impact litigation on city, state, and federal level
• In coordination with the Executive Director and Legal Director, serve as LCD’s representative to outside agencies and the court regarding legal issues and/or common legal concerns across MLP sites
• With the Executive Director, manages LCD’s MLPs and provides input for MOUs and/or BAAs between organizations

Qualifications:

• JD from an accredited law school
• Active Pennsylvania law license
• Minimum of 3-5 years legal experience, including significant civil litigation experience, with at least 2 years’ experience mentoring or supervising junior attorneys
• Prior experience working in a pro-bono legal services organization
• Experience working with an MLP and a demonstrated understanding of social determinants of health and the intersection of law and health
• Experience developing working relationships across legal and social services sectors, including prior work with the courts, grassroots organizations, and legislative bodies;
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing policy agenda and communicating with policymakers, stakeholders, the public, and the media about policy objectives;
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations and develop a creative approach to working with limited resources
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate communication within teams and participate effectively as a member in teams
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills
• Sound professional judgment

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

The Supervising Attorney must be flexible and adaptable. The job requires travel to legal proceedings, client home visits, community meetings, travel between the MLP sites and main office, and other locations.