Staff Attorney Fellow – Medical Legal Partnership

Job Description

Staff Attorney Fellow | The University of Kansas

The Tone:
This is a full-time, limited-term position at The University of Kansas, located on the KU Medical Center main hospital campus in Kansas City, Kansas. The KU School of Law Medical Legal Partnership provides free legal representation to low-income, mentally ill, and marginalized patients on issues like income supports, housing, employment, and personal stability. This role provides an opportunity for a new or recent law graduate to deliver direct legal care, addressing barriers to health outcomes, and improving health at patient, clinic, and population levels. The Staff Attorney Fellow will also play a crucial role in supervising and mentoring law students.

The TL;DR
• Role: Staff Attorney Fellow
• Type: Full-time, limited term (ends August 10, 2029)
• Location: In-person, Kansas City, Kansas (hybrid schedule negotiable)
• Pay: $72000 yearly
• Team: Works collaboratively with the MLP Managing Attorney and healthcare partners, and supervises law students.
• Mission: Provides direct legal representation to patients from low-income communities, those with mental health needs, or marginalized identities, to overcome barriers impacting their health.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office suite, commercial client management software

What You’ll Actually Do
• Direct Legal Representation: Conduct applications with and provide direct legal representation to clients with diverse civil legal needs impacting their health outcomes.
• Student Supervision & Mentorship: Supervise, train, and mentor law students enrolled in the MLP externship experience in their direct legal representation of clients.
• Teaching Assistance: Serve as a teaching assistant to the MLP Managing Attorney, specifically aiding in the supervision of student intern work involving client applications for services.
• Provider Relationships & Referrals: Foster relationships with new and existing health providers to raise awareness of patient-client legal needs and facilitate client referrals to the MLP.
• Project Support: Complete other duties and special projects as assigned by the MLP leadership to support the program’s operations and goals.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Eligible to practice law in the state of Kansas, either with a current license, a temporary permit/certification pending bar results, or a reciprocal state license for Kansas Bar application. Must be a current KU Law 3L (graduating December 2026 or May 2027) or a recent KU Law graduate (Class of 2025 or 2026).
• Experience: Demonstrated commitment to public service, advocacy, and social justice. Experience working with people from low-income communities, those with mental health needs, or vulnerable patient-client identities.
• Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills, along with excellent oral advocacy and writing skills. Excellent computer and word processing skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and commercial client management software.
• Bonus: Participation in the MLP field placement at KU Law. A law license to practice (or bar exam score eligibility to apply) in Missouri. Second-language fluency in one or more of the following: Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, Somali, or Burmese.