Law Fellow – HPC 2027 Summer Fellowship Program

Applications due by January 3, 2027
The  Massachusetts Health Policy Commission   (HPC) (http://masshpc.gov) seeks an exceptional law student for its annual Summer Fellowship Program within the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).
The law fellow will join the HPC’s 2027 Summer Fellowship cohort, which will include up to 10 fellows and run from May 31, 2027 through August 13, 2027.

The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for supporting the HPC’s policy and legal work, including the development of regulations and support of agency compliance functions, and provides counsel on a wide range of strategic, policy, and operational topics.

The fellowship will provide the opportunity for a law student to gain in-house government legal experience and exposure to innovative health policy work. The law fellow will work on a wide array of legal matters in support of the HPC’s mission, including conducting legal research and drafting memoranda, analyzing and drafting materials related to legislation, reviewing and preparing contract documents, supporting the HPC’s data privacy and security program, and assisting with other special projects and duties as assigned. The law fellow may also provide support to the Office of Patient Protection (https://masshpc.gov/opp) , which works to safeguard health care consumer protections in the Commonwealth. The law fellow will have the opportunity to attend internal and external meetings and events with lawyers in adjacent fields.

The law fellow will, with support from their supervisor, guide a legal research or policy project from inception to completion. HPC Summer Fellowship Program reports (https://masshpc.gov/publications?f%5B0%5D=type%3A54)  contain reflections from past fellows, as well as summaries of prior fellow projects.

Qualifications
Applicants must currently be enrolled full-time in a J.D. program at an accredited law school and eligible to work in the United States. Additional qualifications include:
- Demonstrated interest in health policy and health care;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Excellent legal research skill, with demonstrated proficiency in legal research methods;
- Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills;
- Self-motivation and the ability to work as part of a team;
- A strong interest in public service and working to advance affordable, high-quality, equitable health care for all Massachusetts residents; and
- Prior work experience in health care or government is strongly preferred.
 
The HPC operates a hybrid work schedule, with employees and fellows splitting their time between the downtown Boston office and remote work.

Compensation
Fellows are expected to work full time (37.5 hours per week) Monday through Friday for 10 weeks. Fellows are paid $32/hour for a total summer payment of up to $12,000. The program begins on May 31, 2027 and concludes on August 13, 2027, with two holidays and three days off of the fellow’s choosing. These five days are unpaid.

About the Hiring Process 
Applicants must submit a cover letter detailing the reason(s) the applicant would like to work for the HPC, a resume, and a legal research memorandum writing sample of at least three pages. Applications submitted without all three components will not be considered.
  Applications must be submitted by January 3, 2027.
Interviews will be conducted virtually in late January. Selected candidates will be required to provide contact information for three references during the interview process. Following successful reference checks, candidates who receive an offer of employment will be required to sign a contract regarding the obligations of the program. After offers have been extended and accepted, candidates will also be required to complete a background check.

About the Fellowship Program
Now entering its thirteenth year, the annual Health Policy Commission (HPC) Summer Fellowship Program has dual goals of helping to achieve the Commonwealth’s health care reform and cost containment goals while simultaneously providing hands-on educational opportunities to the next generation of health policy leaders. Summer fellows engage daily with their assigned department to guide a project from inception to completion, while also exploring the intersection of HPC goals and their own academic interests. Past fellowship projects have ranged from conducting research and analysis using data from the All-Payer Claims Database to tracking and reporting on legislative activity in the Commonwealth. In addition to their primary projects, fellows participate in an orientation program and a series of educational and networking activities throughout the summer.

Our Commitment
The HPC is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity. We recognize that diversity in the workplace is a source of strength, vital to its ability to effectively advance its mission.   The HPC is committed to:  
- Actively promoting diversity in our workforce, including greater racial and ethnic diversity, at all levels of the organization; 
- Fostering a work environment in which all employees are inspired to do their best, strengthened by their different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences; 
- Ensuring that no employee’s growth, achievement, or advancement is hindered because of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, genetic information, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status, or disability;
- Holding ourselves to a high standard of inclusion and opportunity that will serve as a model for other public and private employers throughout the Commonwealth; 
- Promoting our core values of equal opportunity, equal justice, and inclusion in HPC actions and initiatives.