Staff Attorney

Job Posting 

Staff Attorney

About RIPIN: RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs.  RIPIN’s peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.

Job Summary: The Staff Attorney will primarily serve clients who reach RIPIN through its health insurance consumer assistance call center. Every year, the consumer assistance program supports about three thousand Rhode Islanders who need help navigating barriers to access health care and/or health insurance. The program supports Rhode Islanders with any type of health insurance – including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance – as well as the uninsured. RIPIN takes a holistic approach, also addressing problems like food and housing that drive health and education outcomes. Services are available free of charge to all Rhode Islanders. Most program staff are non-attorney Community Health Workers.  The Staff Attorney will handle complex cases that benefit from legal attention and, in partnership with the Senior Attorney, will provide support, training, and resources to other program staff and community partners.  The Staff Attorney will also support RIPIN’s health policy agenda.

Essential Functions:

1. Provide direct services to a caseload of clients who need help accessing healthcare, health insurance or related supports.
2. Represent clients in health insurance appeals and state agency fair hearings. Assist clients with other complex healthcare access problems.
3. Conduct legal research in support of formal and informal dispute resolution on behalf of clients with health care and health insurance access challenges.
4. Provide training, support, and guidance to other program staff (non-lawyers) to assist them with their caseloads.
5. Produce written resource materials to be used by consumers, other advocates, and colleagues for individual case support, systemic advocacy, and special projects.
6. Assist with maintaining and updating an online resource hub for consumers and consumer advocates to understand, obtain, and utilize health insurance.
7. Conduct policy research, writing, and advocacy to advance the interests of healthcare consumers.
8. Represent RIPIN and the interests of consumers in various policy commissions and committees, in meetings with other advocates, and in meetings with State officials.
9. Work effectively and flexibly with a diverse team of colleagues to serve Rhode Islanders.
10. Accept other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated commitment to RIPIN’s mission
• Some knowledge of and/or interest in healthcare and/or health insurance strongly preferred
• High level of interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills
• Affinity for providing direct services to low income or other vulnerable populations
• Proficiency in statutory and regulatory legal research
• Strong leadership and communication skills allowing for professional interaction with consumers, professionals, RIPIN colleagues, and partners
• Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and programs.
• Proficiency in Spanish preferred but not required

Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor degree
• Proficiency in statutory and regulatory legal research
• Rhode Island bar membership strongly preferred (If not currently a member of the RI bar, applicant must be qualified and willing to pursue RI bar membership immediately following hire)
• Proficiency in computer and internet navigation (online documents, search engine, government websites)
• Proficient in Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office Suite, as well as computer skills to maintain and update program related materials, reports and database

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly required to climb stairs, reach, stretch, stand and bend.
• Required to have the ability to lift and/or moves up to 25 pounds.
• Required to remain at their station for prolonged periods of time.

Working Conditions/ Work Environment:

• Primary work location is a climate-controlled indoor office environment; however, may also be required to conduct visits in community settings that may require climbing up to several flights of stairs.
• Flexibility for travel related to job requirements.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Provide own reliable transportation with proof of valid driver’s license and RI minimum requirements of auto insurance.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

RIPIN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.