The Staff Attorney with the Montana Health Justice Partnership works with health care teams at Community Health Centers and partners serving patients with opioid use disorder across Montana to screen for health-harming legal needs and treat those needs by providing legal services to positively impact a client’s health. This position includes a focus on serving clients with opioid use disorder. Representation includes legal advice, limited scope assistance, and full representation. The position will also participate in MLSA’s statewide initiatives, implement grant and contract requirements through casework and foster pro bono involvement with the private bar.
Key Responsibilities
Travel to partner Community Health Centers and partners serving patients with opioid use disorder to conduct training, hold regular office hours, and provide legal services to address patients’ needs.
Provide orientation and training activities for Health Center partners, including how to make appropriate referrals.
Interview, advise, and represent eligible clients on civil matters.
Develop and maintain specialized knowledge of the health-harming legal needs of patients.
Provide services ranging from brief counsel and advice to more extended representation on core legal issues affecting patients with opioid use disorder in the Community Health system.
Coordinate and support the medical legal partnership, including attending regular partnership meetings, and assisting with evaluation and data collection.
Compose correspondence, pleadings and other documents.
Research the law and prepare memoranda.
Work with other MLSA staff to recruit, train and support pro bono attorneys when appropriate.
Participate in MLSA’s statewide initiatives and impact work and implement grant and contract requirements through casework.
Other duties assigned by the Supervising Attorney or the Deputy Director.
Qualifications
Required
Juris Doctor (JD) Degree.
Admission to the Montana Bar or ability to obtain admission.
Strong legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.
Commitment to serving low-income, rural, and underserved populations insuring equal access to justice.
A willingness to assume a varied case load.
Ability and willingness to learn and integrate new technologies and methodologies to efficiently perform
A willingness to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, the public, judges, court personnel, project partners and the
Ability to travel in state and outside Montana, occasionally overnight.
Preferred
At least three years’ experience in the practice of law.
An understanding of the civil equal justice legal needs of low-income people, including the unique needs of populations that experience particular barriers to access to justice systems, and of effective approaches and methods for addressing those needs.
Experience working collaboratively and empathetically with diverse groups of colleagues, firm partners, and clients who have varying cultural backgrounds, perspectives, experience, and expertise.
Knowledge of substantive legal areas affecting low-income people.
Competencies
Commitment to trauma-informed practices.
Ability and willingness to work cooperatively and collegially with multiple timelines within a decentralized statewide law firm.
High attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
Skilled interpersonal communicator able to work in multidisciplinary teams.
Working Conditions
Hybrid work environment with statewide travel required, including to rural communities.
Primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment, requiring regular computer use and the ability to alternate between sitting and standing at a workstation for most of the workday.
Occasional travel to represent MLSA at national conferences.
Occasional evening or weekend training sessions.
Must possess a valid driver’s license.