African Services Committee, Senior Attorney

Immigratin Advocatres Network; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in the Legal Services sector is looking for a Senior Attorney to join their team in New York. This full-time role revolves around providing legal services to clients dealing with immigration and benefits law while also supervising junior staff. The ideal candidate will have a Juris Doctor, bar admission, and several years of experience, including supervisory roles, especially with vulnerable populations like individuals living with HIV.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State bar required.
• At least three years of post-JD experience as an attorney.
• Experience supervising attorneys preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct legal services in the areas of immigration law and benefits.
• Supervise attorneys and ensure compliance with contract deliverables.
• Conduct 'Know Your Rights' presentations to educate clients.

Skills

Oral Communication

Written Communication

Client Advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

African Services Committee, Senior Attorney

Position:
The Senior Attorney will join African Services Committee’s (ASC) Legal Services Department. This is a full-time position that will require the lawyer to primarily work at the ASC office. Theremaining time will be spent attending external meetings or providing presentations tocommunity members or other outreach activities. Days and hours of work are generally 9:00 AMto 5:00 PM Monday - Friday. Additional evening/weekend hours are required to meet courtand/or program deadlines or client needs.

Responsibilities:

• Provide direct legal services to clients in the areas of benefits, family, or immigration law as needed to help satisfy contract requirements and deliverables. Prepare and file applications or legal submissions as needed. Represent clients at interviews, hearings or before the appropriate courts as needed.
• Provide supervision to Attorneys, Legal Advocates, DOJ Accredited Representatives, orother staff working on tasks or assignments for clients’ cases in the areas of law in whichthey have sufficient experience. Review and revise applications or legal filings preparedby subordinates as needed. Aid subordinates in formulating case strategy. Developstrategies and timelines with subordinates to both comply with case deadlines andmaximize staff productivity.
• Supervise the provision of legal education and counseling via ASC’s benefits counselingprogram. Ensure compliance with the funder’s requirements, that contract deliverablesare met, and reporting is submitted in a timely manner. The benefits counseling programis for eligible people who are either living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA) who arecurrently employed, or are searching for employment, and need assistance with
  understanding how their earned income will affect their benefits, such as SSI, SSDI orHASA. Benefits Counseling services assist PLWHA with enhancing self-managementthrough education and advocacy services regarding the impact of employment andearnings on public benefits. These program elements are goal-driven and focus onimproving financial self-management, financial literacy, and skill development.
• The Senior Attorney will help the program’s clients in order to develop clientunderstanding of the impact of working on their benefits, foster client empowerment tomake decisions about returning to work and potentially reduce benefit loss andoverpayment issues. Attend trainings and courses as needed or required to developrelevant or necessary knowledge for providing services in the program.
• Identify and assess clients’ non-legal needs. Make referrals to either ASC’s internalprograms or other agencies for legal or non-legal needs when appropriate. Makeassociated referrals to services that support clients in linkage to and retention in medicalcare and other support services to achieve viral suppression and self-management and
  maintain optimal health. Track referrals for enrolled clients.
• Review and provide guidance for legal consultations and advice provided to potentialclients by subordinate staff. Review available evidence and information to determine theviability of the potential clients’ cases for representation. Identify and assess potentialclients’ non-legal needs. Make referrals to other agencies for legal or non-legal needswhen appropriate.
• Provide “Know Your Rights” presentations and accompanying materials in English,French or Spanish to educate and inform both prospective and actual clients in thevarious areas of law; about issues affecting people living with HIV; as well as any otheridentified areas of community need or interest.
• Work with Supervising Attorney to supervise and ensure compliance by subordinate staffwith data entry and reporting requirements for the contracts funding the programs thatprovide legal services to PLWHA.
• Work with Supervising Attorney to supervise and ensure compliance by subordinate staffto maintain and update client’s case files and electronic account on ASC legaldepartment’s case management database. Coordinate with the Supervising Attorney tocompile information and statistics relevant to the ASC legal department’s internal andexternal reporting requirements.
• Represent ASC at meetings with other legal service agencies, government agencies,collaborations with other organizations on issues pertaining to people living with HIV, orother topics.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor
• Admission to the New York State bar
• At least three (3) years of post-JD experience as an attorney
• Prior experience supervising attorneys and other subordinate staff
• Prior experience working with either immigrants, or people living with HIV or AIDSpreferred
• Experience representing and/or advising clients regarding their benefits issues, especially inthe areas of SSI, SSD and/or HASA
• Preference for candidates who also either have experience representing clients before thefamily court in divorce, child support, and custody; or have experience representing clients in avariety of immigration matters
• Bilingual: Fluency in English and a 2nd language, preferably French or Spanish
• Must participate and complete benefits program certification course as soon as possible
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability and experience working with diverse individuals and communities
• Flexible schedule and availability for occasional evening and weekend work

How to Apply:
Please apply byemailing your resume and salary requirements to Franco Torres at [e-mail].