Education Attorney Fellowship: Focus on Newcomer Students

(One-Year Bart Gordon Fellowship with the option to extend for a second year) 

Mass Advocates for Children (MAC) seeks a recent law school graduate for a Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) Bart Gordon Fellowship focusing on outreach, training, and advocacy to advance the education rights and education access needs of newly arrived migrant children. The purpose of the Bart Gordon Fellowship is to provide civil legal services to families and individuals in low-income communities who may have difficulty enforcing their rights due to linguistic, racial, cultural or disability barriers, and to encourage individuals committed to racial and economic justice to enter careers in legal services. 

MAC is an advocacy and direct service nonprofit organization dedicated to removing barriers to educational and life opportunities for children and youth. Based in Boston for over 50 years, we advocate to improve educational opportunities for children and youth on the individual and systemic levels.  Since 2016, MAC has been engaged in an organization-wide Racial Equity Initiative designed to make us better equipped to identify, name and respond to the effects of structural and other forms of racism within our organization and educational systems. We are actively continuing this work with the staff and Board to create an organization that reflects our values. This video gives a window into who we are and what we’re about: Who We Are. 

Bart Gordon Fellowship Focus: Education Rights of Newly Arrived Families and Students 

Over the past year, newly arrived families have migrated to Massachusetts in significant numbers. The majority are from Haiti and South and Central America and face barriers to accessing basic services due to language barriers, immigration status, and/or poverty and homelessness. Many have children who are school aged and younger and require additional support navigating the unfamiliar educational system in the US.  

This position will be focused on increasing access to education for newly arrived families and students at the individual student and systemic levels through outreach, training, and advocacy.

Responsibilities will include: 

  • Outreach to immigrant serving organizations providing direct services to newcomer families to provide information about MAC’s advocacy services and to identify barriers to education that may warrant an individual or systemic advocacy response;   

  • Responding to inquiries to MAC’s Helpline related to the education needs of newcomer families, including direct advocacy with school districts on behalf of individual families; 

  • Developing and conducting legal advocacy workshops on education rights in the U.S. for parents and professionals;   

  • Participating in coalitions organized to address the cross-disciplinary needs of newly arrived families and other coalitions as relevant to the role;   

  • Contributing to grant reports and supporting other development efforts related to this work; and  

  • Participating in parent organizing and other systemic advocacy undertaken by MAC and our statewide coalition partners.  

Qualifications and skills

We appreciate and value that a wide variety of life and work experiences could prepare someone for this role. We also recognize that people from historically marginalized communities may not apply for positions if they do not have every qualification. We encourage anyone who believes they would be a good fit to apply! 

  • Third-year law student or recent (within 18 months) law school graduate;  

  • Commitment to social justice and belief in MAC’s mission;  

  • Skillful at understanding and honoring cultural differences; 

  • Strong communication skills, compassion, creativity, and persistence;  

  • Strong research, writing, and analytical skills;    

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team; 

  • Commitment to racial equity and desire to be part of an organization working to advance racial equity internally and in our programs; 

  • Knowledge of special education law, student discipline, and/or familiarity with inequities in public education;  

  • Ability to work flexible hours (some evening and weekend work is anticipated) and ability to travel within Eastern Massachusetts for occasional in-person workshops and/or events; and 

  • Fluency in Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and/or Spanish, in addition to English, preferred but not required.  

Salary and benefits

The salary for this position is $65,000 with an incremental increase for language skills relevant to the position. MAC offers a flexible, family-friendly culture and generous benefits including health insurance and paid time off.  This is a full-time position in our hybrid office (staff work in the office two days per week). ***MAC is currently piloting a 4 Day Work Week, meaning that staff receive 100% pay and work 4 days a week with MAC closed on Fridays. More information is available on our website and will be discussed in the application process.*** 

To apply

Send a cover letter and resume to eliu@massadvocates.org with “Education Attorney Fellowship” in the subject line.  Applications missing a cover letter or resume will not be considered. This is a rolling hiring process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Massachusetts Advocates for Children strives to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. We celebrate diversity and work to dismantle dominant cultural systems of workplace requirements and restrictive hiring practices. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.