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The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is seeking a licensed Attorney with experience in employment of individuals with disabilities, civil rights, the ADA, and other areas of law that impact individuals with disabilities to fill the role of Counsel II. Reporting to the MRC General Counsel, the selected candidate will provide representation and expert legal support across all MRC programs, advising on a broad range of legal issues including compliance with various state and federal laws and risk mitigation for all agency operations.

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) is a learning and participatory performance culture with an emphasis on high performance teams, individual performance/contribution/impact, and engaging in activities to promote and support a program/division/agency (e.g., committee membership, Roadmap workgroup membership, presenting at Town Halls). In addition, MRC is an agency committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial equity, as well as innovation, transformation, and change, and creating a culture of agility, excellence, and belonging.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provide legal counsel to officials and agency employees on federal and state law and regulations as they relate to program administration and service delivery for all programs within Community Living and the Vocational Rehabilitation Division.
• Advise on, and interpret law, court decisions, quasi-judicial decisions and opinions concerning agency work, prepare memoranda, reports, opinions, and advise thereon.
• Prepare and represents the agency in administrative proceedings relevant to client services, maintain liaison with the A.G.’s office on client appeals litigation, work with agency managers, the ombudsperson, and agency field staff to negotiate settlement of client appeals prior to litigation.
• Represent the agency on legal matters in connection with any matters arising from the MRC, VR and CL division programs, advise all staff on development and implementation of legal policies for protecting people with disabilities involving allegations of abuse or neglect reportable under applicable law and regulations, and supports the protective services staff in the administration of their duties by advising on legal duties and policies.
• Maintain a current understanding of evolving law and regulations as they impact agency work, perform legal research, and assist in the drafting of new and revised agency regulations.
• Prepare Memoranda and advise agency staff and managers related to the administration of laws and legal procedures relative to the delivery of services for individuals with disabilities and agency operations.
• Conduct legal research into matters impacting client services, prepare reports, provide legal advice for the development of regulation and policy manuals, develop legal reference materials and guidance accessible for agency staff presentations.
• Represent the agency in administrative hearings, including, as assigned, Civil Service Commission, US Office of Civil Rights, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
• Provide trainings and advise the public, secretariat, agency manager and staff, on legal procedures relevant to agency mandates, regulations, and laws relative to the rights of individuals with disabilities, assist in conducting public hearings, confer with other attorneys and advocate on client service matters.
• Supervision of Counsel I, Paralegal, Law Clerk and Legal Interns on specific assignments as necessary.

Required Qualifications:

• Commitment to providing legal support for an agency serving individuals with disabilities.

• Ability to supervise and advise agency staff relative to Federal and State legal requirements as well as the ability to supervise Counsel I and/or paralegal/law clerk.
• Experience and ability to develop and conduct legal trainings for all agency staff relative to agency responsibilities and the ability to represent the agency at administrative hearings.
• Capacity to research, interpret, and apply law related to the rights of, and services for, individuals with disabilities; the ability to represent the agency in a variety of courts in the Commonwealth.
• Superior writing skills demonstrated by legal writing samples, clarity, logic, brevity, knowledge of the laws related to the rights and services for individuals with disabilities.
• Strong knowledge and experience in legal research methods and the ability to research federal and state statutes, regulations, and case law.
• Ability to perform work efficiently in a telework setting including proficiency in remote conferencing platforms such as Zoom, WebEx, Teams, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the law relative to disability programs, employment of individuals with disabilities, civil rights for individuals with disabilities, the Rehabilitation Act, the ADA, MGL 151B, Public Records laws, data confidentiality and security, civil service, unemployment, and discrimination.
• Strong experience of supervisory practices and techniques directly pertaining to client appeals and agency legal matters.
• Expertise in laws and legal procedures relative to state administration (e.g. contract and procurement, state employment, regulatory practice, records retention, data protection).
• Knowledge of/Experience with Deaf Culture and/or American Sign Language

To Apply:

Please upload both Resume and Cover Letter for this position when applying. First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

About the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission:

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) promotes equality, empowerment, and independence of individuals with disabilities. These goals are achieved through enhancing and encouraging personal choice and the right to succeed or fail in the pursuit of independence and employment in the community. The MRC provides comprehensive services to people with disabilities that maximize their quality of life and economic self-sufficiency in the community.

For more information about our agency and programs visit: www.mass.gov/mrc

Total Compensation:

As an employee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are offered a great career opportunity influencing a wide-spectrum of services to the diverse populations we serve - but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits which you should consider towards your overall compensation, including: 75% state paid medical insurance premium

• 75% state paid medical insurance premium
• Reasonable Dental and Vision Plans
• Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance program
• Low cost basic and optional life insurance
• Retirement Savings: State Employees' Pension and a Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• 12 paid holidays per year and competitive Sick, Vacation and Personal Time
• Tuition Benefit for employee and spouse at state colleges and universities
• Short-Term Disability and Extended Illness program participation options
• Incentive-based Wellness Programs
• Professional Development and Continuing Education opportunities
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."

As part of the hiring process, the Office of Human Resources will be verifying any college-level degrees conferred to the selected candidate. Additionally, any licensure required for the position will be verified. Information provided as part of the hiring process is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

• Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option 2.