Staff Attorney

The Children's Law Center; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in legal services seeks a dedicated staff attorney to advocate for children's rights in New York City. This role involves managing a caseload, conducting client interviews, and representing clients in court. The attorney will work closely with a diverse team to ensure high standards of representation and client service. The position offers a supportive environment that values professional growth and a commitment to social justice. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off

Professional Growth Opportunities

Federal Loan Forgiveness Eligibility

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to practice law in New York State.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest and policy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews and handle court appearances.
• Maintain organized case files and prepare cases for trial.
• Collaborate with teams to represent clients effectively.

Skills

Advocacy

Cultural Competence

Mediation

Interviewing

Effective Communication

Time Management

Organizational Skills

Judgment

Education

Admitted to practice law in New York State

Tools

Case Management System

Job description

About the Organization

The Children's Law Center (CLC) is a non-profit legal services organization that advocates for children's rights across New York City. We represent children in custody, visitation, guardianship, paternity, family offense, and related child protective (abuse or neglect) proceedings in the Family Courts and the Integrated Domestic Violence Parts of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and in appeals therefrom. CLC represents over 5,000 children annually in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, providing holistic and zealous representation and support in the Court, the community and the legislature.
Through our work in the courtroom and the community, we empower our clients, reduce the negative impact of family dissolution and court involvement, and promote wellbeing for young people. We are dedicated to addressing our clients' complex social justice challenges to create conditions that allow them to thrive. We are our clients' 'outside voice.'

Description

Under the leadership of the Borough Director, the staff attorney will work to effectuate the mission of CLC. The staff attorney will ensure that CLC maintains high standards of representation and client services. In collaboration with paralegals, social workers and a writing unit, staff attorneys maintain their own caseloads, taking responsibility for zealous representation from intake through trial.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews with clients and other individuals;
• Handle court appearances;
• Subpoena or otherwise obtain all necessary documentation in order to prepare cases;
• Maintain comprehensive and well-organized case files on case management system;
• Regularly handle intake, comprehensively prepare cases for conference, negotiation or trial;
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy and facilitate its implementation;
• Properly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a case;
• Explore alternatives to litigation and negotiate the best possible resolution for clients;
• Collaborate with the Writing, Social Work, Paralegal and Client Services teams to best represent CLC clients;
• Communicate with the Court, opposing counsel, and others in a timely manner, as necessary;
• Maintain ethical standards of practice;
• Regularly and appropriately respond to client, community and staff concerns;
• Attend training sessions pertinent to practice; and
• Perform other duties as requested.

Position Requirements

Key Qualifications and Competencies

• Admitted to practice law in New York State
• Demonstrated skills in advocacy, cultural competence, mediation and interviewing
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest and policy
• Preference for knowledge of family court, custody, domestic violence, and child welfare
• Demonstrated experience teaming with colleagues to find solutions to complex situations
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal), time management, and organizational skills
• Curiosity and eagerness to continue learning new skills and grow professionally and take an optimistic approach to new challenges
• Proven ability to work independently with excellent judgment, diplomacy, professionalism and able to prioritize requests, track and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise complete discretion when working with confidential and sensitive information;
• Desire to work in a busy organization that represents children.

Salary Range & Union Membership
The expected salary range for this position ranges from $76,500 - $128,520 annually. Salary offers, pursuant to the CLC Collective Bargaining Agreement, are based on the number of years employed in a legal position including performed work analogous to the practice of law.

Benefits

At The Children’s Law Center, we provide a comprehensive benefits package to support your wellbeing. Our offerings include health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan including employer contribution and match, paid time off, and opportunities for professional growth. We are dedicated to creating a supportive and balanced work environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally.

As an employee of The Children's Law Center, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Hybrid Schedule
This position currently requires the individual’s physical presence in court at the discretion of the presiding Jurist and a minimum of two days per week in person at CLC’s offices in New York City.

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt

Location The Children's Law Center - Queens and Brooklyn

Open Date 1/24/2025

Close Date

Req Number LEG-25-00003

Category Legal - Trial

EOE Statement At The Children's Law Center our goal is to provide equal opportunities, work-life balance and great professional development opportunities.

This position is currently accepting applications.

Borough Director in Queens, NY
Posted on: 1/24/2025
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