eJournal

Trial Court launches $2 million grant to expand Springfield Drug Court services

At a virtual event on Monday, Jan. 25, the Trial Court launched its MISSION-Springfield Grant, a $2 million, five-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to significantly expand services offered by the Springfield District Court Drug Court. MISSION-Springfield will offer evidence-based wraparound case management and peer recovery support to participants in the Springfield Drug Court who have substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. 

Event speakers included Trial Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey, Springfield District Court Judge Charles Groce, Drs. Ayorkor Gaba and David Smelson of UMass Medical School and co-developers of the MISSION model, representatives from Behavioral Health Network, and a graduate of the Springfield Drug Court. 

Speakers discussed the challenges individuals living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders face, the new resources that will be available to the Springfield Drug Court, and an explanation of the MISSION model of care, including how it was developed and how it works. 

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Job Openings

Legal research and writing instructor at USDC Lindsay Fellowship program 

The Lindsay Fellowship program at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts currently has an opening for a legal research and writing instructor. The fellowship is an intensive nine-week summer legal program hosted at the U.S. District Court in Boston for approximately six college students interested in law.

Candidates must have a J.D. degree and be admitted to the bar. A background in teaching at the undergraduate and/or law school level is highly preferred. Current legal research and writing professors, law clerks or other attorneys with prior teaching or facilitation experience are welcome.

The 2021 Lindsay Fellowship is currently tentatively set to run from June 7 to Aug. 6.
A decision on whether the course will be taught remotely or in person will be made closer to the start date based on the latest state, court and CDC guidance.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by Feb. 5. For the full job posting, which includes applications instructions, email Public Information Specialist Carolyn Meckbach at Carolyn_Meckbach@mad.uscourts.gov.

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Associate general counsel at MWRA

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is seeking an associate general counsel — labor and employment. The position is the lead in labor and employment counsel and supervises a staff of attorneys, a paralegal and administrative personnel involved in the handling of legal issues. The position provides advice, counsel and representation in all areas of federal and state labor, employment, wage and hour, unemployment, and state ethics law. The associate general counsel also handles and provides representation in arbitrations, meditations and adjudications before administrative bodies on behalf of the MWRA under the direction of the general counsel.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and a J.D. from an American Bar Association-accredited law school. An understanding of the substantive area of labor and employment law acquired by at least seven to 10 years of relevant experience is also required. One to three years of managerial or supervisory experience is preferred. A Massachusetts state and federal bar license is required. (State bar admission must be obtained as of the date of hire, and federal bar admission must be obtained no later than six months after the date of hire.)

For more information and to apply, click here.

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Short-term contract opportunities at
Civil Service Commission

The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission is seeking the short-term services of contract employees, preferably members of the Massachusetts bar who are familiar with employment law, to assist with drafting decisions. Currently, there are cases in which a hearing has been conducted and a decision must still be drafted for the full commission’s consideration. 

The commission is a quasi-judicial agency whose mission is to hear and decide appeals of public employees under Chapter 31 of the General Laws. 

For more information and to apply, click here.