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Posted: 23-Oct-24
Location: USA - MA - Cambridge
Type: Full-time
Internal Number: 67207BR
Job Summary
About the Legal Services Center: Located at the crossroads of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury in the City of Boston, the Legal Services Center is a community-based clinical law program of Harvard Law School. Our longstanding mission is to educate law students for practice and professional service while simultaneously meeting the critical needs of the community. Since 1979, we have engaged in cutting-edge litigation and legal strategies to improve the lives of individual clients, to seek systemic change for the communities we serve, and to provide law students with a singular opportunity to develop fundamental lawyering skills within a public interest law setting. To learn more about LSC, including our six clinics, please visit here.
The Legal Services Center (LSC) of Harvard Law School seeks to hire an Attorney Clinical Instructor (CI) to join our housing medical-legal partnership with the Brigham & Women?s Hospital (BWH) Social Care Team. The medical-legal partnership is anchored within LSC?s Housing Clinic. The Clinic?through its attorneys and clinical law students?provides free legal representation to low-income tenants at risk of eviction, with an overarching mission of preventing homelessness and increasing access to safe housing. The CI will be responsible for working with other teaching staff in the Housing Clinic to operate the medical-legal partnership with BWH, focusing on representing individuals experiencing homelessness, those at risk of eviction, and those living in unsafe housing conditions. The position represents a unique opportunity to combine housing advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clinical teaching.
Position Description
As a Clinical Instructor, you will:
- Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in Clinic cases, litigating an active docket of eviction defense and related cases on behalf of tenants at risk of homelessness.
- Screen cases for merit and help maintain and manage the Clinic?s diverse docket of housing cases that emerge from the partnership with BWH.
- Manage a caseload made up of referrals from BWH and its affiliated community health centers; collaborate with hospital staff (including physicians, social workers, and community advocates) to facilitate client referrals and partner with hospital staff on shared cases.
- Lead the work of the partnership with BWH through regular engagement, cross-training, program evaluation, and related efforts.
- Take a leadership role in project development and management; participate in program evaluation; work with other program leaders to develop short-term and long-term planning for the Clinic and the partnership with BWH and identify strategic opportunities to respond to community need.
- Train, supervise, and mentor clinical law students who are serving clients of the partnership and help develop and implement effective clinical pedagogy tailored to the needs of the partnership.
Basic Qualifications
Candidates must possess a J.D., have at least 3 years of relevant experience, and be admitted to the Massachusetts bar or eligible for temporary admission pursuant to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
We are looking for people who have/are:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice advocacy
- Meaningful experience in housing advocacy
- Dedication to interdisciplinary work and partnering with healthcare providers
- Knowledge about the social determinants of health
- Track record of developing and/or contributing to creative advocacy strategies
- Passion for teaching and mentoring; experience with or an interest in clinical education
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and an inclusive working and learning environment
- Collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit with the proven ability to work in teams and independently
Additional Information
This is a one-year term appointment with potential for renewal for an additional two years, subject to departmental funding and need.
We regret that Harvard Law School is unable to provide visa sponsorship for staff positions.
All offers to be made by HLS Human Resources.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:- Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
- Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
- Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
- Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
- Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
- Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
- Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
- Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Work Format
On-SiteCommitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.