Case Investigator/Paralegal

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking a Case Investigator/Paralegal to support advocacy projects for individuals with mental health concerns. The role involves investigating governmental practices, supporting litigation efforts, and collaborating with community groups to advocate for client rights.

Responsibilities

• Investigate the extent and nature of governmental practices that adversely affect the MHLAC client community
• Identify and interview persons negatively impacted by such practices
• Perform various duties in support of litigation, including seeking, organizing, summarizing, indexing and otherwise handling and transmitting documents produced in formal discovery or relevant to litigation efforts; managing logistics, setting hearings, and tracking deadlines
• Advocate on behalf of indigent adults, adolescents and children who have or are perceived to have mental health concerns in individual cases as called upon
• Interact with and address the needs of named plaintiffs in class-based advocacy
• Perform factual and legal research as required
• Interact and collaborate with community groups and others that also are concerned about the rights of persons with mental health concerns
• In concert with MHLAC staff members, pursue advocacy approaches other than litigation, including legislative, administrative, or public advocacy
• Participate in office processes for determining advocacy priorities and case strategies
• Other functions as assigned in light of office needs

Skills

• Ambition to make positive change happen for significant numbers of clients by undertaking the most potentially effective strategies available
• Ability to work efficiently
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with clients and co-workers in a team environment under sometimes stressful circumstances
• Bachelor's degree required
• Willingness to travel independently within Massachusetts required
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment
• Experience in the delivery of legal services to indigent persons preferred
• Experience in community-based advocacy and corresponding investigatory work preferred
• Experience with persons with mental health issues and/or institutionalized persons preferred
• Experience in litigation and other advocacy that affects substantial numbers of clients preferred
• Law study a plus but not required
• Ability to communicate in a language used by significant numbers of potential clients preferred

Benefits

• Strong package includes access to Massachusetts’ excellent retirement plan for State employees

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