Staff Attorney - Welfare Law Unit

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/ Accessible Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

GBLS provides free legal services and representation to clients in the greater Boston area who cannot afford private legal representation.

GBLS seeks applicants for a permanent attorney position, the first year of which will be in our Welfare Law Unit (WLU) focused on advocacy for tax and other benefits to meet basic needs. (After the first year, the attorney may be transferred to other work at GBLS, based on need at that time.)

The WLU handles advocacy work for certain tax/guaranteed income issues, welfare benefits, and subsidized child care benefits through: (1) direct representation of individual clients and their families; (2) systemic administrative advocacy directed at targeted state and federal agencies; (3) class action and other impact lawsuits and; (4) legislative advocacy campaigns to expand, improve, defend, and create income, food, and child care programs.

Core Responsibilities for the Position in year one:

· Outreach targeted to very low-income clients who did not receive the COVID 2020 and 2021 stimulus payments and/or special 2021 Child Tax Credit

· Handle tax and collateral welfare cases for clients, including representation with IRS and, with Tax Court and/or Fed. Dist. Court, if needed.

· Provide high quality representation in all aspects of this work, including:

o Interviewing and other communications with clients and 3rd parties to obtain initial information

o Determining the relevant questions and documents needed to assess and handle the case

o Obtaining additional information and documents from clients, agencies, and other 3rd parties

o Preparing written communication (email, letters, updates, case lists) for advocacy and other purposes, tailored to the context and the person(s) it to which it is directed

o Drafting memoranda of fact and law for administrative-level advocacy and appeals

o Documenting all case work in the client's case record in GBLS's case management system

· Support the WLU's systemic advocacy through information gleaned from working with clients and community and provider organizations.

GBLS offers a generous benefits package, retirement contribution, and generous paid-time-off. The position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between GBLS and the Attorney Union, which governs salary and benefits.

GBLS values diversity and encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds.