NAELA's CareerCenter

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The Health Justice Project (HJP) is a medical-legal partnership (MLP) clinic housed in the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. The HJP partners with Erie Family Health Centers (a large federally qualified health center), and Legal Aid Chicago (the largest provider of free civil legal services to people in poverty in cook county) to address the health harming legal needs of Erie patients. Students enrolled in the clinic engage in direct client representation and policy advocacy to improve access to health care, access to healthy housing, and to advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities.

The Clinical Teaching Fellow will work in collaboration with the Director of the Health Justice Project Clinic assisting with client representation, research and policy work, and supervision of law students, VISTA volunteers, and other staff. The fellow will also assist with some teaching and engage in interprofessional collaborations with other university programs. This fellowship offers leadership development, experience collaborating on an interprofessional team, clinical teaching experience, and career growth for public interest attorneys.

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, public interest, or law school clinic setting, is barred in Illinois by the start date (or bar eligible) and has experience in one or more of the case subject matters, including public benefits, disability, housing, advance care planning, immigration, guardianship, or family law. The Fellowship is for a term of two years with potential for an extension for a third year based on program and curricular needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

1. Engage in direct legal representation, research, and policy work to improve access to health care, access to healthy housing, and to advocate on behalf of clients with disabilities and chronic health challenges;
2. Assist the clinic director with strategic planning, management and administration of the HJP clinic;
3. Supervise students, volunteers, and staff, including overseeing intake, supporting case advocacy, reviewing drafts of emails, correspondence and pleadings, and attending hearings, court, and meetings with students;
4. Train students and healthcare and social work partners on poverty law, client counseling, and the social determinants of health;
5. Prepare and communicate information to partners, colleagues, students, and volunteers regarding legal and social resources;
6. Maintain frequent and professional communication with contacts at community health centers and other collaborating entities;
7. Support faculty research, develop materials for publication, and assist with event planning.
8. Other clinic and curricular duties as determined in collaboration with the clinic director.

Bachelor's and J.D. degrees required. Demonstrated interest in public interest law and three of more years of public interest direct legal and/or policy experience.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret legal sources (including regulations, statutes, 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, and/or health law. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from partners, health center staff, clients, students, and the 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 levels and strong commitment to client-centered lawyering. Excellent judgment, including sensitivity to client needs, cultural nuances, and confidentiality. Interest in serving low-income people and addressing health disparities. Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is highly preferred.

Computer Skills:
Adept user of Internet, case management systems, e-mail, class management software 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