Staff Attorney, Director of Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy and Law), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD

Overview

The Staff Attorney will work with the Director of Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute to provide advocacy and civil legal services to patients, families, and members of the community in Supplemental Security Income (SSI) matters and public benefits, including, but not limited to: (1) limited representation to families and children with disabilities; (2) case consultations with faculty members, staff members, and trainees; (3) representation in civil legal matters; (4) pro bono referrals; (5) professional trainings; (6) community trainings; (7) community outreach; (8) legal research; (9) supervision to Project HEAL trainees; (10) fundraising; (11) grant writing and reporting; (12) data entry; and (13) systemic advocacy.

Responsibilities

1. Provide limited representation (e.g., education, document review, information and resources, advice, or referrals) to families and children with disabilities on civil legal matters.
2. Provide case consultations (e.g., education, document review, information and resources, advice, or referrals) to Kennedy Krieger Institute faculty members, staff members, and trainees on civil legal matters.
3. Provide representation to eligible families and children with disabilities on civil legal issues.
4. Provide pro bono referrals to nonprofit legal service providers (e.g., Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, and Disability Rights Maryland, etc.) or our pro bono partners.
5. Provide training to Kennedy Krieger Institute faculty members, staff member, and trainees, and other professionals in the community on public benefits.
6. Provide training to parents and caregivers within the community on public benefits.
7. Attend monthly and bi-monthly coalition and task force meetings, when appropriate.
8. In collaboration with the Director, conduct and publish legal research on disability-related topics and public benefits.
9. In collaboration with the Director, co-supervise and manage the Project HEAL trainees and independent contractors.This includes, inter alia, the distribution of work load and providing the trainees an opportunity to observe the staff attorney in practice and coalition or task force meetings.
10. In collaboration with the Director, the staff attorney is expected to engage in fundraising and strategic planning efforts on behalf of Project HEAL.
11. Provide timely and accurate information for all data reporting requirements, including: the National Information and Reporting System (NIRS) and Apricot case management system. In collaboration with the Director, the staff attorney must also adhere to all federal and state data reporting requirements on an annual basis.
12. In collaboration with the Director, the staff attorney is expected to engage in local and statewide systemic advocacy on behalf of families and children with disabilities.

Qualifications
• Must be licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland.
• Individual must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the advocacy and legal system.

Education
• Juris Doctor required.
• Advanced Degree in Psychology, Child Development, or related fields preferred.

Experience
2 or more years of legal experience preferred.

Apply for this job online.