Duties and Responsibilities:

The Health Justice Project is medical-legal partnership (“MLP”) housed in the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. The partners in the MLP include Loyola’s School of Law, School of Medicine, and Department of Public Health, Erie Family Health Center, and LAF Chicago. Students enrolled in the clinic engage in direct client representation and policy advocacy.

The fellow and faculty member work as colleagues, sharing responsibilities for designing and teaching classes; administering the clinic; supervising research assistants, Americorps VISTA volunteers, and students; and all other matters. The fellowship is designed to provide leadership development, experience collaborating on an interprofessional team, clinical teaching training, and career growth for public interest leaders.

The fellowship is particularly well-suited to lawyers who are seeking a career in clinical law teaching or social justice advocacy. The ideal applicant has experience in an MLP or other law school clinic setting, is barred in Illinois by the start date (or bar eligible) and experience in one or more of the case subject matters, including public benefits, disability, housing, advance care planning, immigration, guardianship, among others. The Fellowship is for a term of two years.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Plans and directs implementation and administration of the Health Justice Project MLP and law school clinic;

2. Supervises law students and volunteers in skill development and client representation;

3. Prepares and communicates information to partners, doctors, law students, partners, students and volunteers regarding legal and social resources;

4. Maintains frequent and professional communication with contacts at community health centers and other collaborating entities;

5. Supports faculty research;

6. Develops and maintains case management and data collection systems.

Minimum Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s and J.D. degree required. Demonstrated interest in public interest law, public interest legal or policy experience preferred.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal sources (including regulations, statute, case law, administrative decisions and legislative history), law periodicals, professional journals, and agency procedures. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and legal manuals in a variety of subjects, including housing, public benefits, immigration, education, trusts and estates, guardianship, health law. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from partners, health center staff, clients, students, and the general public.

Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and as part of a team. Detail oriented. 

Flexible work attitude, ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with a small staff and frequent student turnover (due to semester long courses and graduation).

Ability to successfully interact with a variety of people of various socio-economic backgrounds and education level. Excellent judgment, including sensitivity to client needs, cultural nuances and confidential information. Interest in serving low-income people and addressing to health disparities.

Computer Skills:

Adept user of Internet, case management systems, e-mail and other office automation systems. Will be expected to oversee the installation and maintenance of case management and data collection system.

Certificates and Licenses:

Juris Doctor

Admission/eligibility for admission to the Illinois Bar

Special Instructions:

Review of applications will begin February 1, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. Position to begin August 1, 2017. Applicants are asked to submit (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume/curriculum vitae, and (3) the names and contact information of three individuals prepared to provide professional references.

Direct applications to: https://www.careers.luc.edu. Make inquiries to: Megan Bess, Health Justice Project, School of Law, Loyola University Chicago, 25 E. Pearson Street, Suite 720, Chicago, IL, 60611, mbess@luc.edu.

Loyola University Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer with a strong commitment to hiring for our mission and diversifying our faculty. As a Jesuit Catholic institution of higher education, we seek candidates who will contribute to our strategic plan to deliver a Transformative Education in the Jesuit tradition. To learn more about LUC's mission, candidates should consult our website at www.luc.edu/mission/.

For information about the university's focus on transformative education, they should consult our website at www.luc.edu/transformativeed. Applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged.