Staff Attorney (MSRO)

The Network for Public Health Law (networkforphl.org), with the support of its fiscal sponsor, TSNE (tsne.org), is a national organization providing leadership, legal technical assistance, and educational resources to help public health practitioners, attorneys, policymakers, researchers, advocates, and communities develop, implement, and enforce laws to solve public health challenges.

The Network is seeking a Public Health Staff Attorney to work with its Mid-States Region. This is a remote position. This position will assist the Network’s Mid-States Region to provide legal technical assistance, conduct training, develop tools and educational materials, and facilitate opportunities for networking and peer assistance on a wide variety of public health law topics. The position will focus on two key areas: 1) legal issues regarding collecting, sharing, and protecting data for public health purposes, including addressing determinants of health and promoting racial and health equity, and 2) legal issues regarding public health authority.

The Mid-States Region is fully remote, with team members located across the country. Travel is required for conferences, presentations, trainings, and meetings. The Region values collegiality, professionalism and consensus in its work and operations. As a team member, the Staff Attorney will work closely with all members of the Mid-States Region, as well as with team members from other regions and the national office. The Staff Attorney will assist with identifying funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, managing contracts and project deliverables, and performing other duties as assigned. The Region envisions that this position will take on increasing responsibility and independence over time.

Attorneys in good standing of the Bar of a U.S. jurisdiction with a minimum of 3 years of post-law school experience and a strong interest in public health law or data privacy law are encouraged to apply. For best consideration, please apply by 12/30/22.

Legal Technical Assistance

• Provide timely, high-quality, practical, and relevant technical assistance and training in all areas of public health law, including referrals in consultation with Network colleagues.
• Deliver public health law presentations, including in-person presentations and webinars.
• Provide legal technical assistance, consulting, and recommendations on Network projects and potential projects.

Resource Development

• Work directly with public health practitioners, attorneys, and other stakeholders on an ongoing basis to identify relevant legal issues and evidence-based solutions.
• Develop practical or scholarly Network resources for public health practitioners, attorneys, policy advocates, and other interested persons.
• Contribute to a comprehensive repository of legal information, such as blogs, fact sheets, tool kits, and information briefs for the Network’s constituents.

Outreach and Relationship-Building

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with public health and legal experts in the Mid-States region and in areas of subject matter expertise.
• Represent the Network at conferences and gatherings.
• Provide opportunities for networking and peer assistance to Network stakeholders.

Strategic Planning

• Participate in strategic planning, including efforts to identify, obtain, and fulfill grants and contracts.
• Participate in Network-wide committees and workgroups as appropriate.

Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Not applicable.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Minimum of three years of experience in providing legal counsel or technical legal support; experience in public health law, health law, or data privacy law preferred;

or

• A similar level and type of legal practice experience in related areas such as, municipal law, tribal law, environmental law, education law, administrative law, poverty law, and civil rights law;

or

• Previous responsibility related to compliance with data protection laws in place of some legal practice experience;

or

• Graduate level education regarding public health, health information, data privacy and security, or related areas in place of some legal practice experience.

In addition, candidates must:

• Be an attorney in good standing of the Bar of a U.S. jurisdiction;
• Possess excellent legal research, writing, and public speaking skills;
• Possess excellent organizational skills;
• Have demonstrated ability to work independently;
• Be able to demonstrate commitment to health equity and social justice; and
• Be able to create and maintain partnerships and collaborative relationships with a wide variety of individuals and communities.

Special requirements:

• Ability to travel within the region and nationally as needed.
• Ability to occasionally work atypical hours.
• Remote work location.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Regarding COVID-19: TSNE considers the health and safety of our employees of the utmost importance, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and subject to your state and local laws, our policy requires that all employees performing in-person work at a TSNE designated office are fully vaccinated. For the purpose of this policy, fully vaccinated indicates that you have received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine, or both doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Certain exemptions may be requested and will be considered by Human Resources.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote.

Compensation: The starting salary for this position is $70,000/year and is commensurate with experience. Bar fees and Continuing Legal Education credits are paid by the Network.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and sick time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim;
• Low-cost MetLife Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• ...and more!

TSNE/NPHL strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/NPHL prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/NPHL celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/NPHL's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.