Temporary Staff Attorney (Project Eden)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k)

Commuter benefits

Job summary

A civil legal services organization in New York is seeking a temporary staff attorney for their Domestic Violence Law Unit. The role involves providing legal assistance and representation to survivors of intimate partner violence, particularly from the Orthodox Jewish community. The attorney will also conduct outreach and collaborate with community partners. Admission to the New York State Bar and experience in family law is required. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of legal experience representing clients in family or matrimonial law.
• Experience working with the Orthodox Jewish community.
• Significant experience with trauma survivors strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide representation to survivors of intimate partner violence in legal matters.
• Conduct legal screenings and outreach efforts.
• Collaborate with external partners to enhance service delivery.

Skills

Experience with intimate partner violence

Fluency in Hebrew

Legal knowledge in family law

Excellent litigation skills

Collaborative communication

Education

Admission to New York State Bar

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. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job Description

NYLAG seeks a highly motivated temporary staff attorney within our Domestic Violence Law Unit. The attorney will provide safety planning as well as representation, advice, and advocacy services to survivors of intimate partner violence, with a focus on serving survivors from the Orthodox Jewish community. Key litigation areas include orders of protection, contested and uncontested divorces, custody, visitation, child and spousal support, special immigrant juvenile status, abuse/neglect proceedings, and domestic‑and gender‑based‑violence‑based immigration matters such as VAWA self‑petitions, battered spouse waivers, U‑visas, T Visas, SIJS petitions, and adjustment‑of‑status applications. Representation will also involve advising on religious divorces, crime‑victim rights, the criminal justice system, child neglect and abuse matters, and advocacy before the Beit Din. The role requires extensive collaboration internally across projects and externally with community‑based partners, and includes in‑person intake at designated community sites for Orthodox Jewish survivors. It reports to a Supervising Attorney in the Domestic Violence Law Unit and is temporary, covering a staff member’s parental leave.

Employment Type: Temporary
Professional Level: Professional

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive safety planning, as well as representation and consultation to survivors of intimate partner violence in legal matters including orders of protection, divorce, custody/visitation, support, and other family law cases in Supreme and Family Court throughout New York City.
• Provide representation and consultation in domestic‑violence‑based immigration matters.
• Conduct legal screenings, clinics, and outreach, including on‑site and in‑community efforts to expand access to services.
• Engage in outreach with communities who face barriers to accessing services, in particular survivors from the Orthodox Jewish community.
• Collaborate and coordinate with external partners to further the goals of Project Eden, ensure seamless inter‑agency referrals, and respond to ongoing and emerging community needs for survivors from the Orthodox Jewish community.
• Attend internal staff meetings and meetings with partner agencies and funders.
• Participate in relevant internal and external coalitions and task forces to advance survivor justice.
• Mentor legal interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys.
• Conduct educational seminars, trainings, and outreach to communities, partners, advocates, law students, and others on domestic violence‑related issues.
• Administrative duties including updating NYLAG case management systems, maintaining and updating files and case notes, and assisting in grant reporting as needed.
• Other duties as needed.
• Travel within New York City for court appearances and partner agency sites.

Qualifications

• Admission to New York State Bar required.
• 1‑3 years of experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence required.
• 1‑3 years of legal experience representing clients in family and/or matrimonial law or other similar litigation required.
• Knowledge of, interest in, and experience working with the Orthodox Jewish community required.
• Fluency in Hebrew, Russian, or Yiddish strongly preferred.
• Experience with immigration law, including VAWA self‑petitions, battered spouse waivers, and U & T visas, strongly preferred.
• Significant experience working with survivors of trauma, people experiencing poverty, and underserved communities strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with survivors of trauma and advancing gender, racial, and social justice.
• Ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, manage multiple tasks, and creatively problem‑solve.
• Excellent litigation skills strongly preferred.
• Excellent written, oral, and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $87,210 – $93,175 per year (pro‑rated for the period of employment).

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

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.