AmeriCorps Member: Native Communities Medical-Legal Partnership Attorney

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Job location
New Mexico Legal Aid, Inc.
301 Gold Avenue SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
New Mexico Legal Aid, Inc.
Street address: 
301 Gold Avenue SW
City: 
Albuquerque
State: 
New Jersey
ZIP: 
87102
Job type: 
Legal - Civil
Position Description: 

Program Start/End Date: 11/01/2016 to 10/31/2017; members may be eligible to continue their service for two additional one-year terms.
Schedule: Full Time
Education Level: JD/Law Grad
New Mexico Legal Aid has received a multi-state grant from AmeriCorps to host one-year AmeriCorps members to facilitate the medical-legal partnership (MLP) program serving American Indians and Alaskan Natives throughout the US. Fourteen members will be recruited throughout the US as follows: 6 attorneys in Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Nome, Sitka), 4 attorneys in Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), and one attorney each in Arizona (Phoenix), Nebraska (Omaha), New Mexico (Albuquerque), and Utah (Montezuma Creek). The attorney selected will be housed at host site’s local office. AmeriCorps members will ideally begin between November 1, 2016, and November 15, 2016, and remain in place for one year. Members may be eligible to continue their service for two additional one-year terms.
Practice Areas: Children’s Rights, Consumer Protection/Debt/Bankruptcy, Disability Law/Rights, Education, Elder Law, Employment/Labor, Family Law, General Legal Services, Health Law, Housing/Landlord-Tenant, Juvenile Issues, LGBTQ, Litigation, Native American/Indian/Tribal Law, Poverty, Probate/Trust & Estate Issues, Public Benefits/Social Security, Racial Justice Issues, Women’s Rights

Member Description: The AmeriCorps member will offer trainings for health providers and comprehensive legal assistance for low-income patients at partnering hospital or health clinic serving tribal members from the Navajo Nation, New Mexico’s 19 Pueblo tribal communities and other eligible tribes. By focusing on cases that promote income growth, housing stability, and personal safety, the MLP uses legal advocacy as a tool to address social determinants of health. The AmeriCorps member position is open in Albuquerque and nearby Santa Ana, NM.

The AmeriCorps Member will provide direct legal assistance to low-income patients at First Nations Community HealthSource Health Center http://www.fnch.org/ in Albuquerque. Areas of legal advocacy include public benefits, housing, special education, domestic violence, elder law, family law, and consumer law. The AmeriCorps Member will be an attorney authorized to practice in state and/or tribal court, and before administrative agencies. The AmeriCorps Member will be responsible for providing periodic trainings and presentations to providers at medical facilities, as well as for regularly consulting with medical providers.

Although AmeriCorps members will work independently at their local location, the member will be part of a national collaborative network of members to improve social determinants of health for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. All 14 members will attend the week-long MLP Boot Camp in Albuquerque, NM in December 2016. The MLP Boot camp will train each member on vision of the project and arm each member with the tools to nurture each new attorney-hospital partnership. Each member will have a local litigation supervisor for day-to-day activities. Project support will be provided by the MLP Project Director, including monthly conference calls, AmeriCorps updates and NMLA’s Native American Program.

Why become and AmeriCorps Member?
Help your community: Know that you are giving your time, talent, wisdom, and experience to your community and neighbors who need you.
Help yourself: Through service, you can add to the quality and health of your life. Research indicates that volunteers enjoy better health, make new friendships, stay active and involved in the community, and learn new skills.
Make a difference: Be part of a national movement to transform America through the involvement of its citizens.
Save money for the organizations you serve: By donating your time and skills, you help make funds go further for organizations that address critical needs in your community.

Salary
The AmeriCorps Member will receive an annual living allowance as determined by AmeriCorps. Additionally, members will receive a Segal Education Award, health insurance, and other benefits. Interested applicants should contact [email protected] with any follow up questions.
Other Benefits Provided:
• Health and dental insurance provided
• Parking provided
• Position-related travel reimbursement and bar dues provided

Requirements: 

Qualifications
• New Mexico bar membership or eligibility to waive into the New Mexico bar, or eligibility to take the next available bar exam
• Navajo Nation or relevant Pueblo tribal bar membership or eligibility to take the next bar exam, if applicable
• Demonstrated commitment to public service
• Legal experience assisting persons with low incomes (may include student legal clinics, internships)
• Knowledge of the legal issues impacting persons with low incomes
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a variety of contexts
• Prior experience in managing independent projects or assignments
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office 365 computer programs
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to travel throughout the surrounding region
• Those with experience regarding Indian Law are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Ability to begin program no later than November 1, 2016
Member placement is contingent upon ability to pass AmeriCorps, state, and tribal-mandated criminal background checks.

To apply: 

Please send a current resume and letter explaining what you hope to accomplish if you are selected for this position to: [email protected]. Application deadline is October 17, 2016; however, candidates are encouraged to apply sooner as applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Contact Information: Gloria Molinar, HR Director, [email protected]

Notes: 
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. NMLA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status.
Salary range: 
Salary The AmeriCorps Member will receive an annual living allowance as determined by AmeriCorps. More info abobe in the POSITION DESCRIPTION.
Submission deadline: 
Monday, October 17, 2016