About the Fellowship
The Clinical fellowship in the Mental Health Justice Clinic is a two-year position with a third-year option and is designed for lawyers with at least three years of practice who are considering a career in law school teaching. Responsibilities include representing clients, supervising students, assisting in teaching classes, and pursuing a scholarship agenda. Candidates must be prepared to apply for admission to the Connecticut bar (candidates may qualify for admission without examination). All work will be conducted with the support of the clinical faculty and will focus on providing legal assistance to low-income and civil rights clients and organizations.
About the Clinic
The Mental Health Justice Clinic is a semester-long, in-house clinic in which students represent individuals with mental disabilities in litigation under mental health, civil rights, and administrative laws in addition to engaging in policy advocacy and other non-litigation matters on mental health issues.
Illustrative cases include representation of individual seeking state disability benefits in initial applications, administrative appeal, and judicial review in state court; representation of individuals subject to civil commitment, involuntary mediation, and conservatorship proceedings in probate court; and representation of a local organization seeking policy changes on community-based mental health services. Students also engage in advocacy on topics around evidence-based substance use and mental health policies in the family regulation and prison systems.
The principal supervisor for the position will be Professor Marisol Orihuela.
How to Apply
The Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization is committed to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff to teach and work in a multicultural environment. Candidates must be able to work both independently and as part of a team and must possess strong written and oral communication skills. Experience in creative and community-driven advocacy is a strong plus. Annual salary will depend on experience. In addition, Fellows are eligible to participate in Yale health plans and have access to university facilities.
Email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references to: clinical.fellow@yale.edu. Please indicate the clinic or clinics to which you are applying. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2024 but will be reviewed on a rolling basis (early applications encouraged).
Full information can be found at the fellowship posting.
Yale University considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, at TitleIX@yale.edu, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921. Telephone: 617.289.0111, Fax: 617.289.0150, TDD: 800.877.8339, or Email: ocr.boston@ed.gov.