Staff Attorney – Disability Advocacy Project

Organization Overview:

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) is the largest provider of civil legal services in Western New York with a central office in Buffalo and offices in Batavia, Lockport, and Niagara Falls. NLS advocates for thousands of clients each year in multiple legal subject areas. NLS’ staff represent clients who are facing eviction, families who have no money for food or rent, survivors and victims of domestic violence, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. We invite you to join our team and to use your talents and skills to help people and change systems.

JOB SUMMARY:

NLS is seeking a dynamic staff attorney for the Disability Advocacy Project in its Buffalo office. The staff attorney will help clients with disabilities obtain and/or maintain Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits. The staff attorney will learn the law and advocate for individuals in need of disability benefits and address overpayment notices and other client needs Advocacy will include representation of individual clients and will involve caseload management, legal research and writing, and representation at administrative hearings and federal courts.

Essential Responsibilities/Functions:

• Develop a substantive knowledge of the areas of law that impact the lives of persons with disabilities.
• Provide a spectrum of legal assistance from advice and counsel to representation at administrative hearings and federal court.
• Conduct community outreach, education, and training.
• Develop relationships and engage in collaborations with a range of public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, courts, and community-based organizations to ensure integrative services and to address systemic barriers facing our client community.

Core Competencies:

• Strong personal work ethic and ability to organize time, manage diverse activities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proof‐reading skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with a dynamic team.
• Curious and self‐directed with an ability to anticipate client needs.

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary range is $61,111 to $106,720 per year, is dependent on experience and in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (law graduates pending admission are welcome to apply).

Full-time position with a 35-hour work week and shorter summer hours.

Excellent benefits including health, dental and vision insurance, three (3) weeks of vacation, 12 paid holidays plus paid week off between Christmas and New Year’s, sick and personal leave, eligibility for public student loan forgiveness, paid $50,000 life insurance, pension plan, HRA and Flexible Spending Accounts, and paid professional legal memberships.