Managing Attorney, Health Law

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Practice Group: Health Law

I. Organization Information

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Managing Attorney for our Health Law 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, inspiring personal and professional growth.

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 high levels of 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.

II. Position Summary

Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce the opening for a Managing Attorney for our Health Law Practice Group. The Health Law Practice Group provides legal representation to clients in several health-related matters, including access to Medicaid and Medicare services, MLTC issues, MMC issues, health insurance denials, billing issues, and nursing home residents’ rights.

As a Managing Attorney, the role is to oversee and supervise all work in the Health Law Practice Group. The Managing Attorney provides leadership on direct services and training and engages in legislative and administrative advocacy. As time allows, they may also develop and participate in complex litigation in collaboration with other staff in this practice area. The Health Law Managing Attorney is also part of the Empire Justice Center Management Team and participates in management meetings and supervision.

III. Salary

The referenced pay range represents this job's estimated minimum and maximum compensation. 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, expertise of the individual, market data, and internal equity considerations.

Managing Attorney, 7-16 years of experience, $116,149-$125,919 (Upstate New York)

Managing Attorney, 7-16 years of experience, $122,149-$131,919 (Downstate New York)

IV. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel to and work in the Rochester Telesca Center office is required to meet client and organizational needs.

      o Hybrid. If the position is filled locally, it is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy.

      o Remote. Empire Justice will consider remote applicants, provided they travel to the Rochester Telesca Center office and make necessary appearances when required.

• Must demonstrate high comfort and commitment to working with disadvantaged and disabled clientele.

• Train and supervise Health Law practice group staff;

• Represent individual clients in post-enrollment health insurance issues;

• Represent Medicare clients in appeals to the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals;

• Represent appellants at Medicaid administrative hearings with the Office of Temporary and Disability Insurance;

• File internal and external health plan appeals (both commercial insurance and Medicaid/public health insurance programs);

• Undertake legislative and administrative advocacy aimed at improving access to justice in the area of health insurance and health care;

• Provide comprehensive technical assistance to other attorneys and advocates on complex cases and health-insurance-related questions;

• Assist in maintaining and growing Community Health Advocates grant, including meeting grant deliverables and acting as CHA Coordinator;

• Identify systemic issues that create barriers to the receipt of affordable health insurance and medically necessary health care services for all New Yorkers;

• Collaborate with other legal service organizations and build relationships with community partners to promote community engagement and outreach

• Collaborate extensively with stakeholders, including state and national advocates, government agencies, and industry leaders in coalitions and other forums;

• Provide legal education and substantive law training on health-related legal issues to the New York State health law community through CLEs and other formal and informal methods;

• Oversee the collection and reporting of case and other information as required by grant and contract providers and providing them with timely monthly, quarterly, and annual reports as required;

• In partnership with other legal service organizations, keep New York State health advocates up to date on changes in Medicaid and other public health law issues through the NYHealthAccess website;

• Lead and participate in coalitions that advocate for the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrant populations, and other historically marginalized communities;

• Implement the 360-degree approach of identifying emerging issues derived from direct service representation, engaging in education of community and practitioners, and advocating for policy changes when appropriate;

• Develop an in-depth knowledge of the law in health-related matters, including but not limited to access to Medicaid and Medicare services, public health insurance programs, MLTC issues, MMC issues, health insurance denials, billing issues, and nursing home residents’ rights;

• Identify opportunities for pursuing impact litigation;

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

• 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.

V. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

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

• Admission to practice in New York and good standing or admission pending;

       o For remote candidates: Admission to practice in New York State and good standing, or admission pending, or out-of-state admission with eligibility for pro hac vice status (with the expectation of New York admission within two years).

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in health law;

• Experience in supervising legal staff and supporting the development of staff;

• Strong leadership skills;

• Experience in and commitment to working with diverse and impoverished clientele;

• Excellent communication skills;

• Experience in supervising legal staff and supporting the development of staff;

• Experience in and commitment to representing a diverse clientele who have experienced poverty and other hardships;

• Excellent legal research and writing skills;

• Strong case evaluation and case preparation skills;

• Excellent courtroom/hearing advocacy skills;

• Excellent written advocacy skills;

• Effective organizational and decision-making skills, and the ability to work under pressure and to shift priorities while working on multiple competing projects and deadlines;

• Competent use of technology (Microsoft products, webinar platforms, document management system, etc.);

• Experience planning and conducting substantive health law training and CLEs;

• Demonstrated commitment to improving the lives and circumstances of those who have experienced poverty and discrimination;

• Substantial working knowledge of the procedures and rules of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance or knowledge of these rules and ability and willingness to develop these skills; and

VI. Preferred Skills

• Experience advocating on behalf of Medicaid and other public health insurance program recipients preferred;

• Experience with legislative and administrative advocacy preferred;