Disability Rights Attorney Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Practice Group/Team: Public Benefits

Organization Information

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Supervising Senior Attorney for our Public Benefits practice group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State.

Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced severe oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.

Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.

Position Summary

Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Supervising Senior Attorney for our Public Benefits practice group. This position will play a leadership role in ongoing impact litigation that improves the lives of low-income New Yorkers. The focus of this attorney will be on improving access to benefits with a particular emphasis on the rights of the homeless and persons with disabilities. The Supervising Senior Attorney would be responsible for the above responsibilities and supervising a practice group member.

Salary

The referenced pay range/scale represents the estimated minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range and determined by considering factors, including but not limited to education, experience, qualifications, individual expertise, market data, and internal equity considerations.

Supervising Senior Attorney, 7-8 years of experience, $110,700-$117,000 (Downstate NY – includes a $6,000 geographic differential)

Benefits

We are an organization that supports and promotes a healthy work-life balance. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package, including:

· 35-hour full-time work week.

· Comprehensive health insurance plan.

· 403(b) eligibility - immediately eligible to begin contributing from your paycheck.

· Immediate vesting upon hire - ALL contributions (both employee and employer).

o 1% employer match is eligible after 12 months of employment.

o 3% non-elective annual contribution made by employer after 12 months of employment.

· Generous vacation, sick, personal, and holiday time

o 14 Paid Holidays

o Vacation: 10.5 hours/month; Sick: 7 hours/month; Personal: 35 hours/year

· Loan Repayment Assistance Program for qualifying employees.

· Bilingual salary enhancement for qualifying employees.

· Generous Bereavement Leave.

· Employee Wellness Activities.

· Voluntary Supplemental Disability.

· Dental Insurance (employee paid).

· Vision Insurance (employee paid).

· $150K Group Term Life Insurance.

· NYS Short-Term Disability.

· FSA Eligibility.

Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly desires a diverse and inclusive workforce. Empire Justice Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. It prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, specifically - race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, genetics, neurodiversity, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel to and work in the Yonkers, New York, or Hempstead or Central Islip, Long Islandoffice is required to meet client and organizational needs.

o This position is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy.

• Lead or serve in a leadership role as part of a litigation team in impact litigation and class actions in both state and federal court, incorporating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, where appropriate.

• Represent clients at all stages of litigation, including providing advice and counsel and direct representation in federal court, state court, and administrative proceedings.

• Conduct significant legal research and writing, including drafting complex briefs for impact litigation and appellate work.

• Supervise practice group members, whether attorney or paralegal, including one whose job includes representing clients at administrative fair hearings before the Office ot Temporary and Disability Assistance.

• Engage in policy, administrative, and legislative advocacy, including advocacy with state and local social services agencies.

• Participate in coalitions, including serving in leadership roles where appropriate.

• Provide technical assistance and training to our legal services and community partners through participation in and presentation at continuing legal education events, and assisting with the development of resources.

• Maintain a well-developed knowledge of public benefits law, including cash assistance, SNAP, HEAP, and childcare assistance programs.

• Monitor and respond to questions posed in the public benefits listserv.

• Advocate for changes in law and policy through report-writing and testimony as needed.

• Frequent traveling is required.

• Must demonstrate a high level of comfort and commitment to working with people from marginalized communities.

• Work closely with your assigned supervisor and participate in regular supervision meetings, including work plan development and grant deliverable management.

• Develop and maintain competency in working with databases, Microsoft 365 applications, and other legal technology.

• Due to limited resources, all staff are expected to perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.

• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited US law school or international equivalent.

• Admission to the New York State Bar and in good standing as a member of the NYS bar.

• Minimum of 7 to 8 years of litigation experience in state and federal court, ideally related to public benefit access.

• Supervisory experience is required.

• Must have a well-developed knowledge of public benefits law, including cash assistance, SNAP, HEAP, and childcare assistance programs.

• Excellent legal research and writing skills with experience in drafting complex briefs, pleadings, and motions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability and willingness to mentor, supervise, and train legal staff in all Empire Justice Offices through video conferencing/communication and travel when necessary.

• Strong leadership skills.

• Access to reliable transportation.

• Experience in and commitment to working with marginalized communities.

• The ability to provide legal advice to clients who do not speak English via an interpreter.

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint), with the ability to learn and adapt to other applications quickly, including but not limited to file management applications, calendar applications, and virtual meeting applications.

• Must demonstrate strong analytical skills.

• Ability to shift priorities while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing objectives.

• Effective decision-making skills that balance overall organizational and leadership objectives with employee needs.

• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate partnerships.

• Experience in working with diverse clientele, including those who have experienced poverty.

• Commitment to improving the lives and circumstances of those who have experienced poverty and discrimination.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) communication skills.

TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If interested, please visit our “Work With Us” employment page at www.empirejustice.org. Please submit a complete application, including a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and contact information for three professional references (one supervisor is required). Please refrain from making phone calls or sending hard copies. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contact Mercedece Love, Human Resources and Compliance Manager, at mlove@empirejustice.org. Empire Justice Center is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Empire Justice Center ensures that persons with disabilities and/or communication barriers have reasonable accommodations.