Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.

FAMILY LAW STAFF ATTORNEY

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

GENEVA, NEW YORK

The Geneva office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY) has an opening for a Family Law Staff Attorney. Relevant experience in such Family Law matters is preferred.  Depending on office needs, the Family Law Staff Attorney may also assist with the full range of matters handled by the Geneva Office.

LawNY® is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in a fourteen-county area of western New York. The Geneva office serves residents of Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. The Family Law Staff Attorney position would primarily serve clients in Wayne County, New York.

Due to COVID-19, LawNY® staff are able to work remotely all or part of the week. LawNY® maintains an extensive safe operations plan and seeks to ensure the safety of both our staff and our clients. All staff are still required to fulfill their professional obligations, which will require direct in-person contact with clients and in-person appearances in court or administrative agencies as needed to perform the functions of their role.

Core responsibilities include: 

• Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients in Family Court.
• Develop specialized knowledge in Family Court matters, particularly: Family offense; custody and visitation; child support violations; and abuse and neglect proceedings.
• Provide legal advice to clients regarding Family law.
• Collaborate with other LawNY® advocates, the private bar, human services providers, non-profit organizations and community, client or other advocacy groups to address  problems of the poor, including providing community legal education.

Requirements: 

• Admission to the New York State Bar, Admission on Motion or eligibility for a temporary practice order is required.
• Strong oral advocacy, litigation, and legal research and writing skills.
• Applicants should have a sincere and demonstrated commitment to race equity.
• A strong commitment to advocating on behalf of marginalized people.

 

Desired skills: the ideal candidate will have many of the following qualifications:

• Prior legal experience, particularly with low-income and other oppressed communities and clients.
• Understanding of the principles of race equity analysis and the intersection of racism and poverty and their application to LawNY’s organizational life and to our work.
• Experience with the courts and agencies in the Geneva service area, or capability to successfully build relationships with directly impacted community members, courts, and community agencies.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for a wide variety of audiences.
• Strong fact-gathering and interview skills
• Strong problem-solving, time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to empathize and sensitively respond to people in crisis situations.
• Excellent use of Google Drive/GSuite, Word, and Excel; database programs a plus.
• Fluency in Spanish is an advantage but is not required.
• Lived experience with our client communities is an advantage but is not required.
• Understanding of the principles of race equity analysis and the intersection of racism and poverty and their application to LawNY’s organizational life and to our work.
• Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY®.

Salary and Benefits:  Salary is dependent on years of relevant experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The entry level annual salary for a newly admitted attorney with no practice experience is $58,00 and increases to $65,500 for an attorney with five years of experience.  

We provide a superlative package of fringe benefits including:  

                         

• 94% employer paid health insurance, with significant HSA contributions to offset high deduction plans                                                                                                                       
• 100% employer paid dental and disability insurance                                                    
• $50,000 automatic life insurance  
• Remote Work Policy: New staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week during their 6 month probationary period with manager approval. This increases to 5 days per week once successfully finished with a probationary period with manager approval.
• LawNY is committed to providing a work-life balance to their employees.  We encourage and support a 35 hour work week to ensure our employees have this balance.

                                                                                                

LawNY staff may qualify for public interest law school loan forgiveness programs.

We also provide a very generous leave package including, in the first year of employment, four weeks of vacation, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 floating holidays. New parents receive 20 days of paid new parent leave provided by LawNY.

 

LawNY is a qualifying public service loan forgiveness employer and a participant in the LSC loan repayment assistance program.

 

To Apply: Applicants should submit 1) a letter of interest, 2) resume, 3) a brief writing sample, and 4) the name and contact information of three references by February 28, 2023, to ensure full consideration. (https://www.lawny.org/Employment) only. Please do not send applications directly to Geneva office staff.

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer,  committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture.

We are striving to transcend the construct of race and be an anti-racist law firm. We encourage staff to bring their whole selves to work each day and pledge to celebrate every aspect of who they are. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for applicants who have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations. This position is considered exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.