Staff Attorney

New York Legal Assistance Group; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 87,210 - 93,175; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Commuter benefits

Job summary

New York Legal Assistance Group is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney for its LegalHealth division. The attorney will address health-related legal needs for low-income individuals across partner hospitals. Responsibilities include staffing legal clinics and providing comprehensive legal services in various areas, such as benefits, housing, and employment.

The ideal candidate is admitted to practice law in New York and has at least two years of relevant experience. NYLAG offers a diverse, inclusive workplace and a competitive salary range between $87,210 and $93,175.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice law in New York.
• At least two years of relevant experience, preferably in healthcare.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Staff legal clinics at partner hospital sites weekly.
• Provide legal services on benefits, housing, employment, and immigration.
• Train medical staff on legal issues related to patient care.

Skills

Legal research

Writing skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Spanish-speaking

Education

Admitted to practice law in New York

Two years of prior relevant experience

Job description

About NYLAG

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 113,000 people last year.

Job description

LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney to join one of the longest standing and the largest Medical‑Legal Partnership (MLP) in the country.

LegalHealth partners with a diverse array of medical professionals in 38 hospitals throughout New York to address the health‑harming legal needs of low‑income people with serious health problems. LegalHealth complements health care with legal care – providing free legal services in medical facilities and training healthcare professionals to understand both the legal issues their patients may encounter and the relationship between health and legal advocacy. Using a holistic approach to address Social Drivers of Health, LegalHealth attorneys practice as generalists, representing clients on a myriad of legal matters that are often connected to a diagnosis or chronic health condition. LegalHealth plays a leadership role in the expanding MLP movement, helping others to start or sustain their own MLPs. This position reports to their supervising attorney.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for staffing two weekly legal clinics at hospital partner sites. Additionally, the attorney will provide periodic clinic coverage when available.
• Provides legal services in a wide range of issues including: benefits, housing, employment, immigration, and advance planning.
• Periodically train medical staff to foster better communication and stronger relationships. This may be large trainings on specific legal issues, advocacy, and other areas of interest as well as smaller case consultations.
• Position requires an in‑person legal clinic at a hospital two days per week and fulfilling the hospital clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice law in New York.
• At least two years of prior and relevant experience, preferably working in healthcare or with vulnerable populations.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong research and writing skills.
• Ability to both empathize with clients’ challenges and help to problem‑solve is critically important.
• Spanish‑speaking preferred.

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type

Full‑time

Professional Level

Professional

Salary Range

NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $87,210 and $93,175.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long‑term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care.

Application Instructions

Please save resume and cover letter on one PDF.

Covid Vaccination Policy

To safeguard the health and well‑being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID‑19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

Hybrid Work Policy

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full‑time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in‑person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.