Attorney-in-Charge, Community Justice Connect

Center for Justice Innovation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental

Vision

Disability insurance

Life insurance

FSA

Talkspace

Ginger

403(b)

Job summary

The Center for Justice Innovation seeks an Attorney-in-Charge to lead the Community Justice Connect program across Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. You will supervise program managers, ensure accurate civil information, and coordinate with civil justice partners and government stakeholders.

You will oversee staff training, develop resources, and provide brief legal advice to visitors while aligning operations with housing and benefits law, immigration, and family law issues.

Qualifications

• JD degree and NY Bar active with 5 years legal services experience.
• Expertise in Housing Law and Family Law, Government Benefits, Immigration.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, communication, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to social justice and community empowerment.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal expertise to the Community Justice Connect project and volunteers.
• Oversee civil legal training for staff and volunteers.
• Act as primary legal contact for Connect staff on legal matters.
• Collaborate with Housing Justice Initiatives and funders.
• Develop and maintain housing strategies and program marketing.
• Oversee program budgets and quarterly goals.
• Supervise Program Managers across sites.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Policy advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Active NY Bar

Job description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Community Justice Connect,operatedby the Center for Justice Innovation, is a network of storefront centersthatprovidefree legal information,assistance, and referrals to people with civil legal problems. The programseeksto solve issues in areas like housing, public benefits, employment, family law, and immigration before they become emergencies that must be litigated in court. Currently, Community Justice Connectoperatesin Brooklyn,theBronx,and Queens.In addition tocommunity justice workers (non-lawyers)providing direct serviceassistance, the program trains community volunteers toprovide assistance totheir neighbors.

The Community Justice Connect program is seeking an Attorney-in-Charge. Reporting to theDirector ofCivil Access to Justice Initiatives,theAttorney-in-Chargeoverseesdevelopmentandexecutionof the program model, supervision of Program Managers, and implementation of programmatic initiatives. TheAttorney-in-Chargeisresponsible forcoordinatinghigh-quality,consistent practices across the program, including supportingprogram staff with daily operations of the program,andcollaborating with a range of civil justice partners, community leaders, social service providers,andcity and state government stakeholders.The Attorney-in-Charge ensures that the legal information provided by the team isaccurateandup-to-date,andalsooffers limited instances of brief legal advice for visitors.Theymust stay abreast of developments in a wide set of civil legal fields andmaintainsystems forregulartraining and sharing updates in real time.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Legal Expertise

• Provide legalexpertiseto theCommunity Justice Connectproject, offering support and guidance to volunteers and staff;
• Oversee civil legal training for program volunteers and staff, including the development and implementation of accessible,educationalresources and programming;
• Act as the primary point of contact forConnectstaff and volunteers on legal matters that arise from visitor issues. The candidate must have extensive knowledge of civil areas of law which affect low-income residents, including Housing Law, Government Benefits, Consumer Debt, Immigration, and/or Family Law; and
• Provide brief legal advice to visitors regarding civil areas of law, including but not limitedto: eviction proceedings, government benefits termination proceedings, such as fair hearings of Article 78 proceedings, childsupportand/or custody proceedings, etc.

Vision and Strategic Program Development

• Collaboratewith Housing Justice Initiatives:Work closely with the broader Housing Justice Initiatives Departmentto develop and implement housing strategies that align with the broader mission of increasing community-based access to justice;
• Facilitate conversations with program stafftoidentify, sustain, and explore new funding sources, and to develop and coordinate new initiatives;
• Ensureallprogram sitesare meeting or exceeding program goals;
• Work in collaboration withleadershiponstrategic planning and implementation of new programming;
• Oversee the day-to-day budget by establishingquarterly and yearly budget goals;
• Developandmaintainrelationships with funders, government officials, as well as community stakeholdersand program leadership across the Center;and
• Develop andmaintainprogram-wide marketing strategy, including social media,incollaboration with the CJI Communications team.

Policy and Protocol Implementation

• Ensureprogramstaff are providing the highest qualityof service toprogram participants acrosssites;
• Overseeprogram performance initiatives, including coordination ofprogram research, planning, and reporting activities with DAAR team;
• Assistthe Center’s Development team in grant management and writing, including monthly and quarterly reporting to funders and opportunities for new initiatives; and
• Develop procedures and protocols to track and meetprogramdeliverables.

Operationsand Personnel Management

• Directly superviseProgram ManagersacrossConnect sitesin Jamaica, Brooklyn, and the South Bronx, NY;
• Support Program Managers with operational responsibilities, including direct supervision of Program Associatesand volunteers;
• Overseethe quality of program data and materials, refining and improving workflow and case processing when necessary;
• Work withstakeholdersto ensure program operations run smoothly; and
• Deviseand implement strategies for improvingprogram-widecohesiveness and interdepartmental communication.

Other Duties

• Undertake any other duties assigned by the organization’s leadership, contributing to the overall success and growth of Community Justice Connect;
• Assistother Center administrative and leadership responsibilities as needed;and
• Other relevant tasks, as necessary.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active membership in the New York State Bar with 5 years of experience in a legal services position with some supervisory experience;
• Expertise in Housing Law and either comprehensive or good working knowledge of Family Law, Consumer Debt, Government Benefits, and Immigration;
• Strongleadership and managerial skills;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
• Demonstrate excellent written, communication,and organizational skills;and
• Commitment to social justice and community empowerment.

Position Type

Full-time, evening and weekend hours required.

Position Location

Required travel across Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens offices.

Compensation

The compensation range for this position is $90,000 - $135,000 and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits

The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basicdental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.