The Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts (“CLCM”) is seeking a full-time staff attorney to provide educational legal assistance and related advocacy services to indigent and disabled children and youth.

Founded in 1977 and based in Lynn, the CLCM is a legal advocacy and resource center that provides a range of legal services to children, from newborns to 22 years, in education, child welfare, immigration, mental health and related substantive areas. It seeks to ensure justice and maximize opportunity for its clients, many of whom confront challenges in public schools and/or are caught up in the state’s human service systems.

General Responsibilities of Education Attorney:

The successful candidate will (1) represent children with disabilities in special education disputes, including advocating at Team meetings and in litigation before the Bureau of Special Education Appeals to ensure delivery of appropriate services, and/or combat disparate treatment and unjust discipline; (2) represent students in school exclusion and other discipline matters; and, (3) engage in advocacy around enrollment, ELL, homelessness/McKinney-Vento, and education rights of system-involved youth. The education attorney will engage in various non-case related activities including community outreach; training parents, attorneys and service providers on legal issues affecting children; task force/committee participation; and, systems reform work designed to enhance the effect of the agency’s direct service efforts. The attorney also will be responsible for working with/overseeing the CLCM’s intake line, supervising intake workers, and training and mentoring Pro Bono attorneys. He/she will work closely with CLCM’s project office in Boston (EdLaw), staff of legal aid programs across the state, and staff of numerous youth-serving programs in the northeast region and Greater Boston.

Qualifications:

  • Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar or licensed to practice law in Massachusetts
  • Spanish language proficiency or fluent strongly preferred

 

  • Familiarity with state and federal special education laws
  • Excellent organizational, communication and leadership skills
  • Experience working with urban school and state human service systems
  • Commitment to the legal needs of low income children, including immigrant populationsSalary and benefits are competitive with legal services scales. To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and references to: Jay McManus, Children’s Law Center of MA, 298 Union Street, Lynn, MA 01901, or E-Mail same to j.mcmanus@clcm.org No phone calls, please. The deadline for applications has been extended to 10-23-15 b@ 5:00 p.m.

 

CLCM is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in the workplace and encourages all applicants, regardless of age, race, national origin, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation to apply.