Temporary Staff Attorney (Project Eden)

NYLAG; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Life insurance

Long-term disability

Commuter benefits

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

Job summary

A civil legal services organization in New York City seeks a temporary staff attorney in their Domestic Violence Law Unit. The candidate will provide legal representation and advocacy for survivors of intimate partner violence, focusing on the Orthodox Jewish community. Responsibilities include family law cases, immigration matters, and extensive collaboration with community partners. Ideal candidates will have 1-3 years of relevant legal experience and a commitment to social justice.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence.
• Experience representing clients in family and/or matrimonial law.
• Extensive collaboration with community-based partners and outreach.

Responsibilities

• Provide safety planning and representation to survivors of intimate partner violence.
• Conduct legal screenings and community outreach.
• Attend internal meetings and partner agency engagements.

Skills

Experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence

Litigation skills

Fluency in Hebrew, Russian, or Yiddish

Knowledge of immigration law

Ability to communicate effectively

Education

Admission to New York State Bar

Job description

About NYLAG

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. NYLAG’s 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. The role includes family and matrimonial litigation cases (orders of protection, contested and uncontested divorces, custody, visitation, child and spousal support, matters related to special immigrant juvenile status, and some abuse/neglect proceedings) and domestic and gender-based violence based immigration matters (VAWA self‑petitions, battered spouse waivers, U‑visas, T‑visas, SIJS petitions, and applications to adjust status). The attorney will represent clients before Supreme, Family, and Integrated Domestic Violence Courts, as well as USCIS throughout NYC. They will also assist survivors in submitting compensation claims based on victimization, and in appellate family and immigration law cases. Representation will include advising clients on religious divorces, crime‑victim rights, the criminal justice system, child neglect and abuse matters, and advocacy and representation before the Beit Din where appropriate.

The role requires extensive collaboration internally across projects and externally with community‑based partners within the Orthodox Jewish community, and will include on‑site and community outreach, including in‑person intake at designated community sites that serve Orthodox Jewish survivors of domestic violence.

This job will require regular travel within New York City, including appearing in court and partner agency sites.

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 outreach to expand access to services.
• Engage in and conduct 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 and maintaining and updating files and case notes as well as assisting in grant reporting as needed.
• Other duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Admission to New York State Bar required.
• 1‑3 years of experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence.
• 1‑3 years of legal experience representing clients in family and/or matrimonial law and/or other similar litigation experience.
• Knowledge of, interest in, and experience working with the Orthodox Jewish community.
• Fluency in Hebrew, Russian, or Yiddish is strongly preferred.
• Experience with immigration law, in particular VAWA self‑petitions, battered spouse waivers, and U & T visas, is 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.

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.

Benefits

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