POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Ithaca office of LawNY® seeks to fill an immediate opening for a full-time Staff Attorney in its Eviction Prevention/Foreclosure Unit. The Staff Attorney will provide direct legal representation, primarily in eviction defense and foreclosure cases in Tompkins and Tioga Counties. The candidate must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help people with low incomes overcome crisis situations.
Staff Attorneys at LawNY® provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients, and the ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting low-income communities intersect with social and economic justice.
QUALIFICATIONS
These are the basic requirements for the position.
- Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State.
- Valid Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle for transportation to and from court appearances, outreach event locations, and client meetings.
- Demonstrated commitment to serving people with low incomes.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
COMPENSATION PACKAGE
The beginning salary for a Staff Attorney at LawNY® with no experience is $75,000 and the salary for a Staff Attorney with thirty years of experience is $111,100. Salary will be based on experience. LawNY® is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including:
- 94% Employer-paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer-paid in-network deductible
- 100% Employer-paid Dental Insurance
- 100% Employer-paid Life Insurance
- 100% Employer-paid Enhanced Short-Term Disability
- 100% Employer-paid Long-Term Disability
- Vision Insurance
- 20 Paid Vacation Days per Year
- 12 Sick Days per Year
- 5 Personal Days per Year
- 13.5 Holidays plus 2 Floating Holidays per Year
- 35-Hour Work Week
- Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week. After 6 months, this increases to 5 days per week with Manager approval, as workload permits)
RESPONSIBILITIES
These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.
- Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients served by our Eviction Prevention and Foreclosure Unit.
- Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, particularly landlord-tenant law, foreclosure prevention, subsidized housing, and government benefits.
- Provide legal services to low-income clients and client groups regarding these matters, including advice, negotiation, litigation, foreclosure defense, loss mitigation advocacy, and administrative representation.
- Provide legal representation to homeowners facing foreclosure, including conducting legal research, drafting pleadings, motions, and other court filings, negotiating loan modifications and loss mitigation options, and appearing in state and federal courts, mandatory settlement conferences, and related proceedings to protect clients’ interests and preserve homeownership whenever possible.
- Collaborate with local courts, housing agencies, mortgage servicers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to prevent avoidable foreclosures, expand access to foreclosure prevention resources, and promote housing stability for homeowners at risk of losing their homes.
- Conduct community outreach, education, and engagement activities designed to identify homeowners facing foreclosure, increase awareness of available legal services, and connect vulnerable households with resources that help preserve homeownership.
- Interact respectfully with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, with an awareness of the importance of cultural competence and humility.
- Collaborate with other LawNY® advocates, human services providers, nonprofit organizations, community groups, the courts, administrative tribunals, and the private bar to address legal problems within our community, including providing community legal education.
- Contribute to a safe and healthy work environment for fellow employees.
- Cooperate in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing, and compliance review.
- Maintain a high level of professional competence through attendance at training sessions, seminars, and conferences and through individual efforts to remain current on developments in poverty law and the application of an equity lens to client services.
ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS
These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to a candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities.
- Litigation and advocacy experience in state and/or federal court and/or administrative forums within at least one related area of poverty law, especially landlord-tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, fair housing, and/or government benefits.
- Experience working with individuals and communities facing barriers to accessing resources, opportunities, services, or justice.
- Applies an understanding of bias and systemic inequities related to socio-economic status, race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetic information, national origin, familial status, and language to improve client access, engagement, and outcomes.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to trauma-informed and culturally responsive services.
- True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to clients with low-income in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester.
LawNY® has been providing high quality legal representation for 54 years, and today has over 180 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and a legal support team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing legal issues affecting our clients and community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To review our full application process and tips for your application and interview, see here. https://www.lawny.org/ApplyingtoLawNY
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three professional references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform found here: https://lawny.bamboohr.com/careers/304 When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such. The application for this position is open until filled.
To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to supporting our diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your background and experience has prepared you to contribute to our mission, vision and values at LawNY®.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations to support you in your role - whether for your interview, onboarding, or your day-to-day work, please let us know by sending an email to:[email protected]. Any information shared will remain confidential and only be used to ensure the appropriate support is in place before your first day. As part of your employment, LawNY will provide the necessary hardware to support your role.
Questions? Contact Michelle Grillone at [email protected]
LawNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. If you meet the basic qualifications of the role, we encourage you to apply!
This position is considered Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
