Supervising Attorney - Special Populations Program and Finger Lakes Legal Care

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Rochester office of LawNY® seeks to fill an opening for a Supervising Attorney working

with the Special Populations Programs (SPP) Unit which represents older adults and

veterans among others and the Finger Lakes Legal Care (FLLC) Unit which uses the Medical

Legal Partnership (MLP) model to deliver direct legal services to low-income patients of

participating health systems. The Supervising Attorney provides leadership and supervision

in supplying comprehensive legal services to eligible clients and the ideal candidate should

have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting low-income communities

intersect with social and economic justice. We expect those who fill this position will grow

and adapt their practice to the needs of the community and the organization, and place an

emphasis on supervision skills and the ability to practice in multiple forums. The candidate

must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help low-income people

overcome crisis situations.

 

QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.

● Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State

● Three (3) years of experience providing legal services as a licensed attorney.

● Demonstrated commitment of service to low-income people.

● Commitment to learning and developing supervision skills that support diversity,

equity, and inclusion.

● Demonstrated leadership in critical issues facing low-income people.

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The beginning salary for a Supervising Attorney at LawNY with 3 years’ experience is

$80,000 and the salary for a Supervising Attorney with thirty years of experience is

$111,600. Salary will be based on experience. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the

Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).

 

LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including:

● 94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in-network

Deductible

● 100% Employer paid Dental Insurance

● 100% Employer paid Life Insurance

● 100% Employer paid Enhanced Short-term Disability

● 100% Employer paid Long-term Disability

● Vision Insurance

● 20 Paid Vacation days per year

● 12 Sick days per year

● 5 Personal days per year

● 13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year

● 35-Hour Work Week

● Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per

week. After 6 months, this increases to 5 days per week with Manager approval,

as workload permits)

 

RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of

the position.

• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in the dynamics of the Special Populations Programs (SPP) Unit which represents older adults and veterans among others and the Finger Lakes Legal Care (FLLC) Unit which uses the Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) model to deliver direct legal services to low-income patients of participating health systems.
• Provides legal services to low-income clients and client groups regarding these matters including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy.
• Maintain a caseload representing eligible clients.
• Interacts respectfully with clients, partners, and team members from a wide range of backgrounds, with an awareness of the importance of cultural competence and humility.
• Collaborates with other LawNY® advocates, human services providers, non- profit organizations and community groups as well as the courts, administrative tribunals and the private bar to address legal problems within our community, including providing community legal education.
• Cooperates in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing and compliance review.
• Supervise the caseloads of Staff Attorneys and Paralegals, ensuring that each supervisee handles an appropriate amount of work, and coordinate the periodic review of the cases.
• Help identify leadership development and mentoring opportunities for supervisees.
• Create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for supervisees.
• Maintain a high level of professional competence through attendance of training sessions, seminars and conferences and individual efforts to keep abreast of current developments in the area of poverty law and the application of an equity lens to client service.
• Work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.

ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills

that speaks to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will

possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities.

Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups often apply to jobs

only if they meet 100% of the desired competencies. We encourage you to apply even if

you do not believe you meet all the desired competencies.

● Litigation and advocacy experience in local, state and/or federal court and/or

administrative forums within at least one other area of poverty law.

● Experience incorporating an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into legal

practice with an understanding of the concepts of structural and institutional

racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.

● Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to

providing trauma-informed services.

● Experience supervising staff, including attorneys, paralegals, and support staff

is preferred.

● Experience with the courts and agencies in our service area, and/or lived

experience with our client communities

● Excellent use of Google Drive/GSuite, Word, and Excel; database programs

such as LexisNexis and Westlaw.

● Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY®.

● True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients

 

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that

provides free civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14-county area of Western New

York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices

in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in

Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester.

LawNY® is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender

identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and

culture. We are increasingly committed to creating a law firm where race equity, diversity

and cultural competency are integral components of our work, from client advocacy to

internal operations.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three professional references through

LawNY®’s BambooHR platform found here. When outlining work experience on a resume,

candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe

unpaid volunteer/internships as such.

To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to maintaining a

diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please

also include an explanation of how you think your lived and/or professional experience or

background has prepared you to contribute to support a strong commitment to diversity and

inclusion at LawNY® and in our fair housing work.

Questions or Accommodations? Contact Michelle Grillone at mgrillone@lawny.org

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer.

LawNY® strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color,

women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and persons from other

underrepresented groups whose background may contribute to working in and sustaining

an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and

safe. LawNY® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender

identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, veteran status, disability,

genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.

This position is considered Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.