AMERICORPS
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
Part-time Human Resources Director
Date Posted:
June 27, 2019
Application Deadline:
This is a fast-track hire. Interested & qualified applications should apply as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
Position Background and Description:
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), a nationally-recognized nonprofit statewide poverty law and policy center, seeks an experienced Director of Human Resources to work in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to build and implement a robust Human Resources operation. This is a management position that reports directly to the COO. The Director of Human Resources is responsible for the smooth and productive operation of MLRI’s human resources area. The Director of Human Resources assists management on strategic staffing plans, compensation, benefits, training and development, and budget. He or she takes a leadership role in developing a culture that enables employees to perform in accordance with MLRI’s values and objectives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
The Director of Human Resources effectively plans, designs, develops and evaluates human resource-related initiatives that support MLRI’s strategic goals. In addition, the Director of Human Resources leads performance management. On a daily basis, he or she supervises staff, reports to the Chief Operating Officer on issues regarding the implementation of policies and procedures, safety of the workforce, recruiting and hiring of employees, legislative and other human resources matters. The Director of Human Resources also assists with the development and implementation of organizational development programs, employee orientation and training programs, and benefit plans. He or she coordinates employee benefit day and is the liaison and primary contact for all Human Resource related vendors, including, but not limited to, workers compensation, insurance, and payroll companies. He or she directs the development and implementation of policies and procedures, database management procedures, equal opportunity and employment programs, and employee records and documentation polices. He or she evaluates the effectiveness through compiling and analyzing data and distributes reports on Human Resource metrics to ensure needs are met. The Director of Human Resources ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws and industry regulations.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree in human resources or equivalent preferred; or a bachelor’s degree, five years related work experience in a not-for-profit or equivalent combination of education and experience;
- Professional certification in human resources;
- Experience:
• Human Resources: 10 years (Required)
• Human Resources Management: 8 years (Required) - Education:
• Master’s (Preferred)
Benefits offered:
• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Healthcare spending or reimbursement accounts such as HSAs or FSAs
• Retirement benefits or accounts
• Others
Click here for a full description of this posting.
Part-time Accounting Director
Date Posted:
May 24, 2019
Position Background and Description:
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), a nationally-recognized nonprofit statewide poverty law and policy center, seeks an experienced Director of Accounting to work in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to build and implement a robust financial operation. This is a management position that reports directly to the COO.
Core Responsibilities:
- Oversees the Accounting and Benefits functions of the organization, and is responsible for their overall financial management within Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
- Works with the COO on the annual budget process and oversees the performance of daily accounting functions including general ledger, balance sheet, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, grant budgets, and grant financial reporting.
- Designs, implements and monitors internal controls, policies and procedures.
- Provides analysis of financial results and appraisal of the organization’s financial position to the COO.
- Play a key role in the quarterly and year end close process
- Prepare annual audit schedules with support and interface with auditors
- Collaborates with the organization’s Human Resources Director in periodically reviewing benefit providers’ cost, benefit levels, and services.
- Works with insurance providers to ensure adequate coverage and timely renewals, and is responsible for maintaining corporate and professional liability insurance coverage.
- Supervises accounting staff.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or equivalent experience. CPA certification is required.
- Minimum of eight years non-profit financial management experience.
- Solid experience in the oversight of multiple federal, state and private funding sources, including ensuring compliance with all accounting-related requirements of various funding sources.
- Excellent cash management and analytical skills and annual audit management experience are required.
- Collaborative team player with supervisory experience and excellent communication skills.
- Proficient computer skills using accounting and spreadsheet software required
Interested candidates should submit a resume to mabreu@mlri.org with the Subject: Accounting Director Position.
Click here for a pdf of this posting.
Housing Policy Advocate (temporary hire)
Date Posted:
June 9, 2021
Application Deadline:
This is an immediate / fast-track hire. Application materials will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis; interested and qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.
Position Description:
MLRI seeks a dynamic advocate with experience in housing and policy to join its Housing Practice Group. The Housing Policy Advocate will advance policy issues on behalf of low-income and marginalized tenants and homeowners and will work closely with partner legal aid programs, community-based organizations, client groups, and statewide coalitions to further fair, equitable and just housing policies in Massachusetts.
About MLRI:
Founded in 1968, MLRI is a nationally recognized nonprofit poverty law and policy center that provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities. We pursue systems change through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, coalition building, community lawyering, and other strategies that address systemic harm to low-income people. MLRI is also the statewide multi-issue poverty law support center for the Massachusetts civil legal aid delivery system; our advocates provide substantive expertise and technical assistance to frontline legal aid field program advocates and to many other advocates and providers who serve low-income people and communities in Massachusetts.
Job Responsibilities:
- Together with the Housing Practice Group, provide advocacy, leadership, and support to the Massachusetts legal services community and advocates statewide on areas that include working with and on behalf of tenants of public housing; ensuring and enforcing tenants’ rights in evictions; addressing issues of gentrification and displacement; working with community partners committed to housing equity and opportunity.
- Coordinate and conduct outreach for key legislative campaigns including legislation pending at the Massachusetts State House for right to counsel in evictions, eviction record sealing protections, public housing legislation, and other housing matters.
- Advocate for housing rights through legislative and administrative policy advocacy, and education
- Offer technical assistance and training to public housing tenants and community/advocacy groups (health care providers, social workers, shelter providers, etc.) related to legislative and administrative policies
- Work with the Housing Practice Group to lead regular statewide Housing Coalition meetings, lead teams on specific advocacy projects, and produce community legal education materials on housing law.
Desired Experience & Qualifications:
- Minimum five years legal, public policy, or other relevant experience
- J.D. and license to practice law in Massachusetts strongly preferred
- Expertise in housing law and policy including public and subsidized housing, landlordtenant issues, eviction defense, housing preservation, foreclosures, gentrification, fair housing and race equity, and other housing opportunity issues
- Excellent research and writing skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Commitment to MLRI’s mission to serve low-income and vulnerable populations
- Demonstrated ability to work with community groups and coalitions
- Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational skills and ability to lead or coordinate a coalition or team of partners
Salary and Benefits:
MLRI’s salary scales for attorneys and non-attorney policy advocates are based on years of relevant experience. (For example: starting annual salary for a staff attorney with 5 years experience is $70,000; 10 years is $77,750; 15 years is $84,500.) MLRI provides a very generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 403(b) plan, as well as vacation, holiday, and family leave.
This is a temporary, full-time position until December 2021, with a possible extension to March 2022 contingent on additional funding.
How to Apply:
Please email a cover letter outlining experience and qualifications, a resume, and two writing samples to humanresources@mlri.org. No phone calls please.
Click here for a full description of this posting.
Legal Interns
MLRI seeks motivated interns to assist with research and advocacy work. If you’re interested in doing meaningful work that makes a difference, please submit your resume and references to sarmour@mlri.org.
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. MLRI strives for racial and ethnic diversity because it is critical both to achieving MLRI’s mission and to operating in a way that is consistent with MLRI’s organizational values. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Statewide Language Access Attorney
Date Posted:
February 20, 2019
Application Deadline:
This is a fast-track hire. Interested & qualified applications should apply as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.
Position Background and Description:
Language barriers create and complicate legal problems. Individuals with a limited understanding of English are often forced to use their children, friends or family members as interpreters to help them address legal problems. Misinterpretation in these situations can have devastating ramifications. Massachusetts has the eighth largest limited English proficient population in the country. Language access is a growing and pressing need in the legal aid and access to justice community.
The Statewide Language Access Attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is largely supported through special funding from the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC). The Language Access Attorney will work to increase access to justice by limited English proficient (LEP) and Deaf and hard of hearing communities in Massachusetts. The Attorney will provide technical assistance to and support the work of frontline legal services advocates. In addition, he/she will coordinate the Language Access Coalition and will work with this coalition and others to identify language access barriers, propose strategies, and implement improvements that provide LEP individuals with qualified, accessible, and timely language access services. The Attorney will participate in language access collaboration and advocacy work on national, statewide and local levels.
Core Responsibilities:
- Statewide Language Access Advocacy Coordination
• Coordinate the statewide Language Access Coalition (LAC); plan/facilitate regular LAC meetings
• Update the language access sections of the Massachusetts Legal Services website (www.masslegalservices.org) and the Massachusetts Legal Help website (www.masslegalhelp.org).
• In collaboration with the LAC, coordinate and plan the annual legal aid Language Access Conference
- Advocacy
• In collaboration with LAC and legal services programs, identify and address systemic language barriers and/or noncompliance with language access laws and regulations (e.g., in state and local agencies, the courts system, etc.) through advocacy strategies to ensure that individuals who are LEP, or Deaf or hard of hearing receive qualified, accessible and timely language services - Technical Assistance & Support to Legal Aid Programs and Community Groups
• Work with legal aid programs and advocates to help build capacity within their programs to identify and resolve language access client issues and to identify widespread issues appropriate for systemic advocacy
• Respond to requests from legal services advocates for technical assistance regarding language access issues and increase the capacity of legal services to engage in direct advocacy on language access.
• Coordinate trainings on language access laws and regulations, best practices, effective language access issues in case handling, etc., to frontline legal aid staff and legal aid programs
• Develop training and screening tools related to assessment of linguistic proficiency and interpreter skills for interpreters and bilingual staff.
• Help legal aid programs design and update internal Language Access Plans.
• Maintain an up-to-date pool of resources available to advocates and connect language access efforts statewide to encourage collaboration and systemic interventions.
• Build relationships and collaborations with community-based organizations that serve LEP communities.
• Educate LEP communities about language access rights.
• Provide direct service to clients in addressing language access issues that arise in specific cases.
• Encourage and facilitate the collaboration and sharing of resources with advocates outside of legal services, including: community partners, the court systems and administrative agencies.
Click here for a full description of this posting.
Adminstrative Assistant
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), a nationally-recognized nonprofit statewide poverty law and policy center, seeks an experienced, tech-savvy Administrative Assistant with strong organizational skills to assist in the day to day administrative operations of the organization. The position will report to the Director of Administration and Operations.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide general clerical and administrative support
- Serve as main office receptionist
- Assist Executive Director and Director of Development development-related administrative functions
- Perform special assignments or tasks as requested by the Executive Director
Click here for a full description of this posting.
Legal Interns
MLRI seeks motivated interns to assist with research and advocacy work. If you’re interested in doing meaningful work that makes a difference, please submit your resume and references to sarmour@mlri.org.
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender, national origin, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. MLRI strives for racial and ethnic diversity because it is critical both to achieving MLRI’s mission and to operating in a way that is consistent with MLRI’s organizational values. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Resources for legal help and information: