Greater Hartford Legal Aid (GHLA) seeks an experienced staff attorney or policy advocate to represent the interests of people with low income at the state legislature, with administrative agencies and in community and advocacy coalitions, task forces, councils and other arenas, and to provide comprehensive legal services for civil legal problems in pursuit of GHLA’s mission and priorities. The attorney or advocate will focus on issues impacting benefits, health and family economic security, including but not limited to Medicaid, Temporary Family Assistance/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, State-Administered General Assistance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and state budget issues related to those areas.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Working with direct advocacy staff from Connecticut’s legal services network to identify and prioritize client issues, and coordinating closely with policy counterparts at other programs to develop a legal services legislative/policy agenda;
Coordinating closely with contract lobbyists and allied advocacy and social service organizations;
Drafting, or facilitating the drafting of, legislation, fact sheets, testimony and other information related to prioritized client issues;
Advocating for the interests of low-income people to individual legislators, legislative committees and others involved in the legislative process, and in administrative and community forums;
Coordinating interaction with state agencies regarding legislative/policy matters;
Consulting with legal services personnel regarding existing, pending or proposed rules, regulations or other administrative matters that affect low-income people and assisting with activities to influence such matters as needed;
Analyzing and advocating concerning the state budget’s impact on low-income people.
Engaging in direct client advocacy in areas including Benefits and Health, in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate level, and before administrative agencies, depending on qualifications.
Qualifications:
Juris Doctor degree or Masters degree or other relevant postgraduate degree required. Licensed Connecticut attorney preferred. Legislative and policy advocates with significant experience are encouraged to apply. Strong candidates will have demonstrated experience in policy advocacy and lobbying for low-income communities regarding issues impacting benefits, health, and family economic security, including but not limited to Medicaid, TFA/TANF, State-Administered General Assistance, SNAP, and state budget issues related to those areas.
To apply, please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to:
[email protected]
Applications will be accepted until hiring is completed. This is a full-time position, with excellent salary and benefits.