Staff Attorney, Law Reform Unit - New York, NY

The Legal Aid Society; New York (NY); On-site; USD 83,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Staff Attorney for their Law Reform Unit, focusing on housing discrimination cases. This role involves representing clients in court, conducting policy advocacy, and training staff. The ideal candidate will have a strong legal background, excellent advocacy skills, and a commitment to social justice. This position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and loan forgiveness options for public service. Join a team dedicated to making a significant impact in the community!

Benefits

Health Insurance

Paid Vacation

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Loan Forgiveness Programs

Qualifications

• Admission to New York State Bar required.
• 5 years of legal practice with advocacy skills needed.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in various court proceedings.
• Conduct policy advocacy and community outreach.

Skills

Advocacy Skills

Legal Research

Community Outreach

Policy Advocacy

Organizational Skills

Education

Admission to New York State Bar

5+ years legal practice

Job description

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Staff Attorney, Law Reform Unit

#25-90

New York, New York, United States

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Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed

May 15, 2025

Job Description

The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice has one Source of Income Discrimination Staff Attorney position available in the Law Reform Unit. This assignment will focus on a range of affirmative work relating to housing discrimination based on lawful source of income and other issues if consistent with the needs of the Law Reform Unit.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Represent clients in administrative hearings, City, State, and federal court proceedings, and affirmative litigation, and advocate with local, State, and federal agencies


• Train in-house staff and staff in other organizations and act as a resource for LAS staff representing clients with source of income discrimination cases; engage in community outreach and education to individuals, local community-based organizations, and advocates


• Conduct policy advocacy on behalf of clients


• Coordinate and collaborate with other groups and organizations


• Work with pro bono lawyers


• Conduct off-site intake, including during evening hours


• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Admission to New York State Bar


• A minimum of 5 years legal practice required


• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills are required


• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team and manage a high volume of cases


• Ability to coordinate and collaborate successfully with other groups and organizations


• Excellent organizational skills


• Ability to work with pro bono lawyers

Preferred qualifications:

• Prior legal experience with source of income discrimination cases is desirable


• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $83,844 - $147,907

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter


• Resume


• Writing Sample

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email [e-mail].

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

#ZR

Location

Manhattan - Civil Practice Lower Manhattan Neighborhood Office