POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT (March 2020)
LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY POSITION IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
The Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY®) Rochester Office has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney at its office located in downtown Rochester. LawNY® is funded in part by the Legal Services Corporation and provides free legal services to low-income families and individuals. The Rochester Office’s primary practice areas are civil rights, housing, public benefits, health law, employment, and elder law. Our 40 member staff includes attorneys, paralegals, and an administrative team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing law related issues affecting our clients and community. The Rochester office has openings in both our eviction prevention team and our population based programs.
Eviction Prevention: This Team focuses on helping low-income people maintain their housing, housing subsidies and income supports. This position utilizes administrative hearing forums and the court system to challenge evictions, public housing and housing subsidy terminations, wrongful public benefit determinations and illegal housing practices.
Population Based Programming: This Team focuses on helping low-income people within vulnerable populations receive holistic legal services. The position will focus on the needs of low-income seniors, veterans and victims of crime. This is a general practice position and may include assisting individuals in landlord/tenant matters, public housing, public benefits, wills and advanced care directives, rights of nursing home residents, social security, SSI & SSD issues, consumer law, and Medicare/Medicaid matters.
Each position will require interaction and relationship building with grassroots groups, community organizations, and social agencies. Working with other LawNY staff members and the community, they will develop strategies, including affirmative litigation, to address systemic problems that adversely impact low-income people. The applicant must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help low-income people overcome crisis situations.
Program: LawNY is a not-for-profit law firm which provides civil legal services to low income clients in a fourteen-county region in western New York State. LawNY staff work in a cooperative environment and all staff members are expected to assist other staff members to achieve the general purposes of our program.
Salary/Fringe Benefits: Salary is dependent upon experience. The candidate will be placed on the LawNY® salary scale based upon their level of relevant experience. The salary for admitted attorneys with three years of experience is $54,500 per year. Fringe benefits include health, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability and generous leave time. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled.
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer. LawNY® encourages applications from diverse candidates. LawNY® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.
Requirements: Admission to the New York State Bar is required. Applicants pending admission or attorneys admitted in another jurisdiction that qualify for a practice order for up to eighteen months pursuant to a court rule will be considered.
Applicants also must have excellent advocacy and writing skills, and must be able to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Most importantly, applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to helping low-income and disadvantaged people overcome barriers to housing, medical and income support. Preference will be given to candidates who are bilingual in Spanish and English.
Procedure: Applicants should submit a cover letter describing qualifications, resume, writing sample and the name and contact information of (3) references by March 30, 2020 to ensure full consideration. Applications will be accepted beyond that date until the position is filled.
Applications should be addressed to the attention of Lori O’Brien, Deputy Director, and sent by e-mail to [email protected]. Candidates can also apply via Indeed.com.