Staff Attorney (Family Defense Unit) - White Plains, NY

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley

http://www.lshv.org

Job Type: Family Defense Unit - Staff Attorney 
Schedule Type: Full-Time
 

About Us

For more than 50 years, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has been providing free, high-quality legal counsel in civil matters when basic human needs are at stake including: eviction and foreclosure prevention, domestic violence, disability, elder law, healthcare, consumer fraud and more.  Our services support almost 600,000 poor and low-income families and individuals who cannot afford an attorney in our seven-county service area.  With the gap separating those who can and cannot afford legal representation widening each day, we work to ensure that everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of their ability to pay.  As the only provider of comprehensive civil legal services in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley (Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan), LSHV is proud to have handled over 12,000 cases impacting nearly 30,000 household members including 10,000 children last year. LSHV is made up of ten offices, and a dedicated and highly skilled staff of attorneys, paralegals and administrative professionals.

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is dedicated to building a highly skilled workforce that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels supported to bring their authentic selves to work. We are committed to promoting equity for all, and we continuously review and strengthen our processes and practices to support our staff, clients and the communities we serve. Respect is a cornerstone of relationships among our staff. 

Job Description

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has an immediate opening for a full-time staff attorney in Westchester County to be part of the multidisciplinary Family Defense Unit (FDU) to represent parents who are accused of neglect and abuse in investigations, administrative hearings, Article 10, Permanency Planning, and Termination of Parental Rights matters as well as other related family court matters in the White Plains, Yonkers, and New Rochelle Family Courts.  The position will be based out of the White Plains Office but will require travel throughout Westchester County and appearances in all three Family Courts.  The FDU also works to prevent placement of children in foster care by advocating for parents at the earliest stages of child welfare engagement including at the investigation stage and by litigating emergency removal hearings.   Using a ground-breaking and nationally recognized client-centered approach to assisting parents, the Staff Attorney will be part of a team which includes staff attorneys, social workers and parent advocates.   

Duties of the Position: intakes and individual case work, litigation in state courts, including appellate practice, and education and outreach efforts directed at community members, advocates and service providers.  The persons hired will also be expected to adhere to program and case handling standards, funder requirements, the highest professional standards, and be available as a resource to LSHV staff and access to justice communities.

Requirements

• Member in good standing of the New York State Bar; 
• Three or more years of legal experience preferably in Family Law and child welfare matters, including litigation, or its equivalent; ability to provide high-quality zealous representation in high-stakes cases and the ability to conduct hearings on short notice;
• Excellent people skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders;
• Ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team with other attorneys, legal professionals, social workers, government agencies and other service providers;
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for the work of defending parents in Child Welfare Proceedings and Investigations;
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car.

Preferred

• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income persons with prior experience in legal services or similar program;
• English/Spanish bilingual 

Salary: $76,997 - $130,164, DOE, union scale, with excellent benefits that include medical, dental, vision, life insurance and long-term disability coverages, as well as a defined contribution to 403b, loan repayment assistance and paid parental leave.  After a brief probationary period, this position may permit work from home up to two days per week.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.