STAFF ATTORNEY

at  Kennedy Krieger Institute

Overview:
The Staff Attorney will work with the Director, Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy and Law) to provide advocacy and legal services to patients, families, and members of the community, including, but not limited to: (1) limited representation to families and children with disabilities; (2) case consultations with staff members and trainees; (3) representation on civil legal matters (e.g., special education, denial of public benefits, and guardianship and less restrictive alternatives (LRAs)); (4) pro bono referrals; (5) professional trainings; (6) community trainings; (7) community outreach; (8) legal research, and (9) systemic advocacy. The incumbent will also provide supervision to Project HEAL trainees, engage in fundraising activities, engage in grant writing and reporting, and enter data.

Responsibilities:

• Provide limited representation (e.g., education, document review, information and resources, advice, or referrals) to families and children with disabilities on civil legal matters.
• Provide case consultations (e.g., education, document review, information and resources, advice, or referrals) to Kennedy Krieger Institute staff members and trainees on civil legal matters.
• Provide representation to eligible families and children with disabilities on civil legal issues (e.g., special education, denial of public benefits, and guardianship and less restrictive alternatives).
• Provide pro bono referrals to nonprofit legal service providers (e.g., Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and Disability Rights Maryland, etc.) or our pro bono partners.
• Provide training to Kennedy Krieger Institute health care staff members and trainees, and other professionals in the community on a variety of topics, including an overview of Project HEAL; medical-legal partnerships; navigating the special education process; futures and estate planning; transition services; discipline for students with disabilities; bullying, harassment, and intimidation of students with disabilities; guardianship and less restrictive alternatives; public benefits; and other civil legal topics.
• Provide training to parents and caregivers within the community on a variety of topics, including navigating the special education process; futures and estate planning; transition services; discipline for students with disabilities; bullying, harassment, and intimidation of students with disabilities; guardianship and less restrictive alternatives; public benefits; and other civil legal topics.
• Attend monthly and bi-monthly, coalition and task force meetings, as well as professional bar membership meetings.
• In collaboration with the Director, conduct and publish legal research on disability-related topics.
• In collaboration with the Director, co-supervise and manage Project HEAL trainees and support staff. This includes, inter alia, the distribution of work load and providing the trainees an opportunity to observe the staff attorney in practice at Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and other coalition or task force meetings.
• In collaboration with the Director, engage in fundraising and strategic planning efforts on behalf of Project HEAL.
• Provide timely and accurate information for all data reporting requirements, including: the National Information and Reporting System (NIRS) and Apricot case management system. In collaboration with the Director, ensure adherence to all federal and state data reporting requirements on an annual basis.
• In collaboration with the Director, engage in local and statewide systemic advocacy on behalf of families and children with disabilities.

Qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must possess and maintain licensure to practice law in the state of Maryland within one year of date of hire.

EDUCATION:

• Juris Doctor degree required
• Advanced Degree in Psychology, Child Development, or related fields preferred

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum 1-3 years of legal experience preferred, but relevant work experience will be considered

• Provide limited representation (e.g., education, document review, information and resources, advice, or referrals) to families and children with disabilities on civil legal matters.
• Provide case consultations (e.g., education, document review, information and resources, advice, or referrals) to Kennedy Krieger Institute staff members and trainees on civil legal matters.
• Provide representation to eligible families and children with disabilities on civil legal issues (e.g., special education, denial of public benefits, and guardianship and less restrictive alternatives).
• Provide pro bono referrals to nonprofit legal service providers (e.g., Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and Disability Rights Maryland, etc.) or our pro bono partners.
• Provide training to Kennedy Krieger Institute health care staff members and trainees, and other professionals in the community on a variety of topics, including an overview of Project HEAL; medical-legal partnerships; navigating the special education process; futures and estate planning; transition services; discipline for students with disabilities; bullying, harassment, and intimidation of students with disabilities; guardianship and less restrictive alternatives; public benefits; and other civil legal topics.
• Provide training to parents and caregivers within the community on a variety of topics, including navigating the special education process; futures and estate planning; transition services; discipline for students with disabilities; bullying, harassment, and intimidation of students with disabilities; guardianship and less restrictive alternatives; public benefits; and other civil legal topics.
• Attend monthly and bi-monthly, coalition and task force meetings, as well as professional bar membership meetings.
• In collaboration with the Director, conduct and publish legal research on disability-related topics.
• In collaboration with the Director, co-supervise and manage Project HEAL trainees and support staff. This includes, inter alia, the distribution of work load and providing the trainees an opportunity to observe the staff attorney in practice at Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and other coalition or task force meetings.
• In collaboration with the Director, engage in fundraising and strategic planning efforts on behalf of Project HEAL.
• Provide timely and accurate information for all data reporting requirements, including: the National Information and Reporting System (NIRS) and Apricot case management system. In collaboration with the Director, ensure adherence to all federal and state data reporting requirements on an annual basis.
• In collaboration with the Director, engage in local and statewide systemic advocacy on behalf of families and children with disabilities