Veterans Legal Corps Fellowships
Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Veterans Legal Corps
at Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.®
August 12, 2016
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm providing free legal services to eligible clients in civil cases through seven regional offices covering a fourteen county area in Western New York. LawNY® receives funding from the New York State Office of Court Administration, Legal Services Corporation, Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) Fund of the State of New York, AmeriCorps, Equal Justice Works and a number of other funders. Our workforce includes approximately 145 attorneys, paralegals and support staff.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Equal Justice Works and AmeriCorps have partnered to create the Veterans Legal Corps (VLC) Fellowship, an opportunity to aid the legal needs of veterans and military families across the nation. VLC Fellows provide civil legal assistance to veterans and military families.
LawNY® has two VLC Fellowships available for the 2016-2017 program year. These Fellowships are available pending funding. These are one year Fellowships that can be renewed for a second year. One Fellow will be placed in LawNY®’s Rochester office, working in an established partnership with the Veterans’ Outreach Center. The second Fellow will be placed in LawNY®’s Geneva office, working closely with the Canandaigua VA Medical Center. The two VLC Fellows will team up with two returning VLC Fellows, one housed in LawNY®’s Bath office and the other housed in LawNY’s Jamestown office. Based on Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps guidelines, the initial one year term of service must commence on or before September 30, 2016. Requirements include completion of National Sex Offender Public Registry check, state(s), and FBI Fingerprint criminal background checks as well as compliance with all Corporation for National and Community Service Federal Regulations throughout the fellowship program.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps VLC Fellow will:
• Provide direct representation to veterans and military families on issues including landlord-tenant matters, home foreclosures, VA and other government benefits, child support and other family law matters, consumer and medical debt, and the removal of barriers to employment
• Work with community partner agencies, including case management staff at the VA hospitals, VA clinics, and Veterans’ Centers in the area to create protocols and facilitate referrals, as well as work with the local bar and law schools/colleges to recruit volunteers
• Develop materials to publicize the project to a variety of audiences
• Deliver presentations at Veterans’ Centers on legal topics of broad appeal and create educational materials to be shared with host staff statewide
• Other administrative tasks related to AmeriCorps and Equal Justice Works program compliance
COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS:
Compensation:
● AmeriCorps living allowance of $25,060
● Supplemental benefits paid by LawNY® of up to $21,000 for housing, student loans, relocation, professional dues, life & disability insurance, and retirement plan expenses. Fellows are required to submit documentation of qualifying expenses before reimbursement can be provided.
Other benefits:
● $5,775 AmeriCorps Legal Education Award upon successful completion of service
● AmeriCorps provided childcare assistance, if eligibility requirements are met
● Professional development and training assistance
● Student loan forbearance and interest accrual payment for eligible loans upon successful completion of service
● Participation in Equal Justice Works training opportunities and conferences, as applicable
● Fringe benefits, including health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and flex benefit plan
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants should be admitted to practice in New York or recent law school graduates who have sat for the July 2016 NYS bar examination. The Fellow will be required to have excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as interpersonal, organizational and negotiation skills and the ability to work as a team member. Knowledge of veterans’ benefits law and/or experience with veterans and military families is preferred. Military service or related-military background, including status as a military dependent, is also preferred. Diverse economic, social and cultural experiences and/or a second language are an asset. The Fellow must be a graduate of an Equal Justice Works member law school.
TO APPLY: Please send a letter of interest, resume, law school transcript, a list of three (3) references with email addresses and telephone numbers, and a legal writing sample to Administrator Kaitlin Tharp at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. The selected Fellows must be able to start on or before September 30, 2016.