Center for Civil Justice - Impact Litigation Attorney

Job Summary:

The Impact Litigation Attorney will undertake significant class action litigation on behalf of low-income persons related primarily to public benefits issues. The practice focuses on litigating fewer larger cases with systemic results rather than a traditional caseload of individual cases. The Attorney will engage in policy advocacy to improve the lives and opportunities for the poor. The Attorney will also engage in legislative advocacy and lobbying and coordinate advocacy strategies with CCJ’s contract lobbyist and allies. The Attorney will work with CCJ’s Health Advocate in overseeing the Health Eligibility Law Project (HELP) helpline which provides answers to questions on health insurance eligibility and access to governmental health insurance programs. The Attorney will be trained as a Navigation Partner with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services mainly to identify policy issues and systemic problems. The Attorney will work with funding partners on school nutrition and health issues.

The Impact Litigation Attorney is supervised by the Executive Director of CCJ.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop substantive expertise on Michigan poverty law issues, and develop expertise as needed to pursue litigation on targeted issues.
  • Identify and pursue legal remedies for systemic problems affecting low-income clients in CCJ’s service area, with special emphasis on issues or remedies that federally-funded legal services programs are not allowed to pursue.
  • Litigation, primarily class action litigation, and pursuit of administrative or judicial remedies in cases that may serve as precedent or persuasive authority for future decisions. Also includes administrative or legal representation in selected cases in which new issues are being examined, to ascertain agency positions on important legal issues.
  • Work with contract lobbyist to develop credibility and relationships with legislators and staff. Identify and pursue goals for legislative advocacy. Write and present testimony at legislative hearings. Identify allies on legislative issues and share analysis and opinions regarding legislation. Respond to requests from lobbyist, legislators and staff for analysis of proposed legislation.
  • Exchange information with, and provide legal and policy analysis to, appropriate federal and administrative agency staff. Advocate for improvements in agency policies and practices.
  • Provide trainings and presentations to legal services advocates, clients, community groups, coalitions, allies, potential allies and policymakers.
  • Provide support to non-lawyer advocates as issues arise that require legal advice or advocacy and to answer questions on health insurance eligibility, coverage or billing issues from eligible clients. Monitor helpline cases to recognize systemic issues that may require policy or legislative advocacy or impact litigation.
  • Provide assistance to clients as a Navigation Partner with DHHS on applying for food assistance, cash assistance, health care coverage, child care or state emergency relief.
  • Develop positive collaborative relationships with other organizations serving low-income persons.
  • Participate in conference calls, webinars, listservs, meetings and trainings to learn about opportunities and problems arising from state and national policy developments and to build relationships with experienced advocates around the country.
  • Prepare issue alerts and educational materials related to priority issues for clients, legal services advocates, the public and community-based allies.
  • Work on grants, such as school nutrition and health eligibility, as necessary.
  • Prepare statistical and narrative reports.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Member in good standing of the Michigan State Bar Association.
  • Admitted and qualified to practice in the U.S. District Court.
  • Experience with impact litigation, or demonstrated ability to identify, analyze and formulate advocacy strategies on significant legal issues.
  • Knowledge of public benefits, and expertise with Medicaid is preferred.
  • Experience in a non-profit civil legal services office or equivalent.
  • Excellent legal research, writing and oral communication skills.
  • Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point.
  • Driver’s license and vehicle.
  • Experience with policy and/or legislative advocacy is helpful but not required.
  • Sensitivity to the needs and issues faced by low-income persons, including senior citizens, non-English speaking persons and persons with disabilities.
  • Ability to create and present community education and training materials.
  • Design and generate statistical reports from database.
  • Able to learn and interpret complex state and federal policies.
  • Self-directed and motivated to do systemic advocacy on behalf of low-income persons.

Essential Functions:

  • Ability to organize and prioritize work.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, community organizations, funders and potential allies.
  • Ability to identify systemic problems or opportunities that can be addressed through advocacy.
  • Ability to develop and pursue strategies for addressing issues of importance to the client community.
  • Ability to educate and persuade through formal and informal advocacy, and effective written and oral communication skills.

Salary

Salary is negotiable and depends on experience. Full-time position with fringe benefits. 

CCJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Please send resume and writing sample to:

Center for Civil Justice
Attn: Kelly Bidelman, Executive Director
436 S. Saginaw, Suite 400
Flint, Michigan 48350
(810) 244-8044
www.ccj-mi.org

Date Posted