The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is seeking a Staff Attorney for Mental Health Advocacy Project’s (MHAP) Patients’ Rights Unit. MHAP’s goal is to empower people identified as having a mental health or developmental disability to live more independent, secure and satisfying lives through the enforcement of their legal rights and the advancement of their social and economic well-being. MHAP helps clients resolve problems in the areas of mental health and treatment, prisoners’ rights and public benefits
MHAP’s Patients’ Rights Unit protects the civil rights of mental health consumers in Santa Clara County through direct client representation, systemic advocacy, training, and education. The Patients’ Rights Attorney’s responsibilities include: 1) representing patients in locked psychiatric facilities in administrative hearings to challenge involuntary detention for mental health treatment or to preserve a patients’ right to refuse psychiatric medications; 2) investigating and resolving complaints from or concerning recipients of mental health services regarding abuse, neglect, and improper denials of rights; 3) monitoring mental health facilities and services for compliance with statutory and regulatory patients’ rights provisions; and 4) providing technical assistance, training, and outreach regarding the rights of mental health consumers to mental health providers, law enforcement, consumers, and community members. The attorney may also have opportunities to work on issues involving public benefits and other civil legal needs.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled. Please submit the following via email to jobs@lawfoundation.org. Please use subject: PRU Staff Attorney: (1) a resume, (2) three professional references, and (3) a cover letter that explains your interest and also addresses the question below. To best serve our clients and our community, the Law Foundation is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in which differences are acknowledged and valued. How has your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to social justice, race equity and diversity among our staff?
