Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.
LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer. Further, LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts and aims to create a work environment where everyone can bring their full selves to the work.
All non-managerial staff at LSNYC are part of one union and enjoy a generous benefits and compensation package, including exceptional healthcare, dental insurance, a vision plan, 21 vacation days per year (increasing to 28 days after the first year), 18 sick days per year, and a Loan Repayment Assistance Program. LSNYC staff can work remotely up to 50% of the time, job duties permitting.
Brooklyn Legal Services (BLS) seeks a Staff Attorney for our Disability Advocacy Project (DAP).
Project Description
Brooklyn Legal Services seeks a staff attorney for our Disability Advocacy Project (DAP or the "Unit") to provide advocacy and representation for people living with disabilities in need of reasonable accommodations in housing, benefits, and public accommodations.
Brooklyn Legal Services is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) and provides high quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn's diverse low-income population. LSNYC's mission is to fight poverty and seek racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country. Our staff of over 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients - preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic violence, and advocating for older adults and people with disabilities.
DAP assists clients with obtaining and maintaining Social Security benefits. We also collaborate with other providers and community partners to develop and implement strategies to remove systemic barriers to disability benefits. The Unit works with people with a wide range of disabilities, including home-bound clients, clients with mental illness, and clients with complex treatment schedules. The Unit's highly qualified advocates are experts in assisting clients in obtaining disability benefits. The staff attorney will work to broaden the Unit's existing advocacy efforts to address systemic barriers facing people with disabilities in need of accommodations.
LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore and advocate for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand, and work to realize our DEIB goals. LSNYC provides numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including funding for continuing education (CLE) hours.
The Role:
The staff attorney will be responsible for helping to build a litigation and advocacy practice centered on obtaining accommodations and systemic change for people living with disabilities in various settings, including housing, benefits, and public accommodations. The staff attorney will represent clients in a number of courts and administrative fora, primarily federal court, NY Supreme Court, and the Commission on Human Rights. The staff attorney will lead and participate in coalition work with community partners and other advocacy organizations and engage in policy advocacy on issues affecting people with disabilities. The staff attorney will be responsible for providing training and support to colleagues in other practice areas to recognize and advocate for clients in need of accommodations, and for providing training and support to community partners.
Required Qualifications and Skills: License to practice law in New York with a minimum of three (3) years of practicing law; Substantial experience and competency in working respectfully and effectively with low-income people with disabilities; Experience litigating in adversarial venues, including federal court; Experience litigating discrimination cases; Experience providing direct legal services from a trauma-informed perspective; Ability to work and finish tasks independently, and independently set and meet internal deadlines in a variety of cases; Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, juggle multiple deadlines, keep clear records, communicate proactively, and remain accountable to your commitments; Ability to work collaboratively; and Strong legal research, analysis, writing, and public speaking skills. Preferred Qualifications and Skills:
Fluency or proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English, preferably Spanish.
How to Apply
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to [redacted]. Please write "DISABILITY - ATTORNEY" in the subject line of the email.
Salary and benefits are determined by the LSNYC Collective Bargaining Agreement. Staff members who are not managers are members of the LSSA/NOLSW UAW Local 2320. Additional information about the practice may be found on our website, www.legalservicesnyc.org. Legal Services NYC is an equal-opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people over the age of 40 are strongly encouraged to apply.
LSNYC acknowledges that applicants from groups that have been historically marginalized are less likely to apply for positions unless they feel that they meet 100% of a job description's qualifications. We understand that the ideal candidate might not completely meet the criteria listed above or be equally proficient in each area; we especially encourage applicants who are impacted by LSNYC's work to submit their application anyway.
Salary Range (Based on years of experience):
1-10 years: $74,881 - $98,355
11-20 years: $100,605 - $118,773
21+ years: $124,254 - $135,637
Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.
