Overview In this role you will support the General Counsel and lead strategic legal and policy work at the Office of the Child Advocate. You will contribute to interagency initiatives and provide legal consultation across divisions, with a focus on education law and trauma-informed approaches through CCWT. You will help shape policy, evaluate external practices, and represent OCA externally as needed. This position offers meaningful impact in safeguarding and improving state services for vulnerable children.
Responsibilities- Participate in strategic planning with the General Counsel and translate goals into actionable staff work.
- Provide legal consultation on complex cases and project work.
- Draft memoranda of understanding and internal policies; analyze policy and external practices.
- Manage interagency initiatives and projects; convene and facilitate groups.
- Contribute to ongoing investigations of individual cases with confidential information.
- Conduct legal research and stay updated on relevant legal and policy changes.
- Represent OCA at external meetings if needed.
Key requirements- Working knowledge of Massachusetts state agencies under the executive branch
- Familiarity with child protection, juvenile justice, education; education law strongly preferred
- Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research and apply precedent
- Clear, concise, cogent legal argumentation
- Discernment with handling confidential information
- Ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and work under time constraints
- Ability to work independently and in a team; strong interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint
- professionalism
- collegiality
- ability to take direction
- legal research
- policy analysis
- interagency project management
