The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) seeks a paralegal or attorney to work on advocacy projects and collaborate with staff to advance the work of the office in defending the rights of people with mental health concerns.
The person hired into this position will join multiple advocacy project teams assembled to address systemic issues that staff believe negatively affect significant numbers in our client population, which typically involve discrimination or other forms of mistreatment. Job duties will span the full continuum of tasks that move a litigation, legislative or administrative advocacy campaign forward from inception to conclusion, including outreach and community engagement, legal or social science research, investigation, drafting, and oral advocacy.
Title : Advocate
Full/Part Time : Full Time
Position Type : Non-Civil Service / Staff
Confidential : Yes
Salary Range : $3,099.29-$4,636.76 bi-weekly (or $80,581.54-$120,555.76 annually, should you remain in our employ for at least 12 full months), commensurate with experience and qualifications
Benefits: Strong package includes access to Massachusetts' excellent retirement plan for State employees
Office Location : 100 Hancock Street, Suite 1002, Quincy, MA 02171
Work location : Quincy, MA
Website : www.mhlac.org
Deadline : Submissions received after October 30, 2026, may not be considered
Start Date : December 1, 2026
References and writing samples will be requested of finalists. A criminal background check will be completed for the selected candidate in compliance with state policy .
How to Apply :
Please submit resume and cover letter via email or mail to:
Ms. Beth Heinrich
Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee
100 Hancock Street, Suite 1002
Quincy, MA 02171
ATTN: Legal Advocate
In the subject of the email, please include Legal Advocate.
Qualifications:
Qualifications
• Ambition to make positive change happen for significant numbers of clients by undertaking the most potentially effective strategies available;
• Ability to work efficiently and multi- task;
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with clients and co-workers under sometimes stressful circumstances;
• Experience in the delivery of legal services to indigent persons preferred;
• Experience with persons with mental health issues and/or institutionalized persons preferred;
• Bachelor's degree required;
• Ability to communicate in a language used by significant numbers of potential clients preferred ;
• Willingness to travel independently within Massachusetts required
Duties
• Advocate on behalf of indigent adults, adolescents and children who have or are perceived to have mental health concerns on a range of civil legal matters;
• Interact and collaborate with community groups and others that also are concerned about the rights of persons with mental health concerns;
• Identify and interview persons, and otherwise investigate systemic public and private practices negatively impacting a substantial numbers of clients;
• Engage in litigation or pursue other advocacy approaches, including legislative, administrative, or public advocacy;
• Participate in collective office processes, including those for determining advocacy priorities and case strategies.
• Handle such other tasks that are deemed necessary by supervisorial staff to move the work of MHLAC forward.
