Supervising Attorney

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Job location
205 Orange Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc.
Street address: 
205 Orange Street
City: 
New Haven
State: 
Connecticut
ZIP: 
06510
Job type: 
Legal - Civil
Position Description: 

New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) seeks to hire a supervising attorney to help ensure LAA staff attorneys are providing the highest quality legal representation and advocacy to our client community. The supervising attorney will provide leadership and mentoring to LAA attorneys in the housing unit.

About New Haven Legal Assistance
NHLAA is a legal aid organization, founded in 1964 in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. We were established on the principle that everyone, regardless of race or income, should have equal access to the justice system. We work side by side, and in relationship with the community, in order to lift up our clients’ voices and achieve racial, economic, and social justice. NHLAA serves clients living in 22 cities and towns in the Greater New Haven and Lower Naugatuck Valley communities. Our client base are primarily people of color impacted by the legacy of structural racialization, systemic racism, and implicit bias. They are children, low-wage workers, domestic violence survivors, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and immigrants.

Essential Duties
• Maintains a caseload in a specific area of law for which they have knowledge and experience;
• Supervises legal work for assigned attorneys, including monitoring work loads;
• Works closely with intake paralegals to ensure all new applications are appropriately assigned;
• Where appropriate, available to review the work of assigned attorneys for completeness and accuracy;
• Attends unit meetings, statewide advocate meetings; and relevant task force or committee meetings;
• Provides attorneys with ongoing feedback and performance reviews; and address issues in accordance with union contracts.
• Where appropriate, serves as co-counsel, particularly with newer attorneys;
• Ensure supervisees comply with organizational procedures and policies;
• Foster positive work relationships and promote cooperation with LAA; and
• Collaborate with Litigation and Advocacy Director to coordinate training for attorneys.

Location
• NHLAA’s primary office is located in New Haven. Occasional travel to court and to our satellite office in Derby, Connecticut will also be required.

Application Deadline
• We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Compensation
• Salaries will be based on experience in line with the union salary scale. Supervising attorneys receive an additional $5,000 increment. We offer generous benefits, including a 403(b) retirement plan; health, dental, vision, and short term disability insurance; sick leave; vacation; and most observed state and federal holidays.

Requirements: 

Qualifications
• Active Connecticut Bar Admission
• Minimum 7 years of legal practice
• Experience working with low-income individuals
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills
• Ability to lead and motivate
• Strong people skills and leadership skills
• Experience working as part of a team and ability to work collaboratively
• Ability to engage with diverse members of LAA and the public in a culturally competent manner
• Experience providing client representation and handling a case from intake to closing
• Professional ethics and integrity

To apply: 

Application Instructions
• Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of at least three references to Carolyn Gontarski at [email protected]. NHLAA invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Notes: 
It is the policy of New Haven Legal Assistance to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Salary range: 
Salaries will be based on experience in line with the union salary scale. Supervising attorneys receive an additional $5,000 increment.
Submission deadline: 
Monday, January 24, 2022