Vermont Legal Aid is seeking a full-time staff attorney to work in its Mental Health Law Project (MHLP). The MHLP staff attorney is part of a small, dedicated team that represents Vermonters in a range of mental health commitment and medication cases, and other involuntary mental health or guardianship matters.
We encourage applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, and welcome information about how your experience can contribute to serving our diverse client communities. Applicants are encouraged to share in their cover letter how they can further our goals of social justice and individual rights. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a discrimination-and-harassment-free workplace.
Responsibilities include meeting with clients labeled mentally ill in inpatient or outpatient settings, factual investigation and analysis, legal research when appropriate, preparation of legal documents, pleadings, and motions, review of voluminous medical records, consultation and collaboration with other Project attorneys, work with expert medical witnesses, representation at trial, and some appellate work. Applicants must be admitted to practice law in Vermont or eligible for admission by motion.
The position is remote until VLA changes its remote work policy; however, the position will be based out of one of our offices, which are in Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, and Springfield. In-state travel in a personal vehicle required.
Starting salary is $57,500, with additional salary credit given for relevant prior work experience. Four weeks paid vacation and retirement, as well as excellent health benefits. Attorney applicants must be licensed to practice law in Vermont or eligible for admission by waiver.
Application deadline is June 10, 2022. Your application should include a cover letter and resume, bar status, writing sample, and at least three professional references with contact information, sent as a single PDF. Send your application by e-mail to hiring@vtlegalaid.org with the subject line “Mental Health Staff Attorney – June 2022.” Please let us know how you heard about this position.
Please read our organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion statement here, which outlines the steps we are taking to adhere to this commitment: https://www.vtlegalaid.org/commitment-diversity-inclusion