The Legal Aid Society’s has an opening for a Staff Attorney in the LGBTQ+ Law and Policy Unit. The LGBTQ+ Law and Policy Unit addresses systemic issues faced by Legal Aid’s LGBTQ+ clients across all three Legal Aid practice areas, Criminal Defense, Civil, and Juvenile Rights, through legislative advocacy, litigation, community-based organizing, and individual client advocacy. The Unit is also responsible for training all Legal Aid’s staff on working with and affirming LGBTQ+ clients and their legal rights.
The Unit seeks a staff attorney to assist in all areas of the Unit’s work, with specific responsibilities to include:
Developing and litigating state and federal lawsuits designed to address systemic issues faced by Legal Aid’s LGBTQ+ clients. This work includes coordinating with the trial offices in the Criminal Defense, Civil, and Juvenile Rights Practice, as well as each practice’s Law Reform Units, to identifythe key needs of and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ clients, researching potential claims and relief, and working with pro bono law firms to litigate all aspects of the case
In coordination with the Unit’s Community Engagement Specialist, developing and managing advocacy campaigns to advance policy change and legislation at the state and city level
Providing support to Legal Aid attorneys seeking advice on how to affirm and support LGBTQ+ clients and on relevant federal, state, and city law and policy
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Litigation and Advocacy
Identify systemic issues impacting low-income LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and develop litigation and other strategies, including legislation and policy advocacy, to most effectively address those issues
Research potential legal claims and draft legal research memoranda
In partnership with the Unit’s Director and pro bono partners, litigate civil right cases in state and federal court
Advocate with city and state agencies to advance better LGBTQ+ policies and implementation of those policies
Lobby legislators and other stakeholders for passage of legislation that advances the rights of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers
Training & Resource Provision & Development
Provide support and affirming resources and referrals to Unit clients and to Legal Aid staff seeking support for their LGBTQ+ clients
Develop resources to assist Legal Aid attorneys and staff on how to affirm and effectively represent LGBTQ+ clients
Assist the Unit’s Director and Learning Specialist with mandatory SOGIE training for Legal Aid staff
Answer questions from Legal Aid staff relating to laws and policies impacting LGBTQ+ people, including the policies of relevant City agencies such as the Department of Correction, Administration for Children Services, and Department of Homeless Services
Community Engagement
In collaboration with the Unit’s Community Engagement Specialist, research, develop, recommend, and execute creative strategies to foster the Unit’s policy goals through community engagement and organizing
Create and support opportunities for engaging community members in the work of the LGBTQ+ Unit, including conducting outreach, coalition building and support, attending community events, and convening community roundtables
Organize, develop, and deliver know-your-rights and other information and training sessions designed to assist people in advocating for themselves and participating in the Unit’s law reform efforts
Professional Development
Participate in continuous professional development, including relevant CLE training and training on effective community-based organizing
Demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
NYS Bar Admission with at least three years of experience (i) developing and conducting civil/constitutional rights litigation or (ii) social justice advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ people
Familiarity with the New York State criminal law system, civil court system, or family court system
Demonstrated experience with social justice advocacy and coalition-based work, preferably in New York City or New York State
Demonstrated dedication to the provision of holistic and supportive client services
Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and justice for LGBTQ+ people and understanding of intersectionality
Preferred qualifications:
Proficiency in languages other than English
Experience litigating civil rights cases in both federal and state court
Familiarity with New York State Freedom of Information Law
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.
Cover Letter
Resume
SALARY TRANSPARENCY
The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.
Salary Range/ Salary: $83,844 – $ 147,907
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.
Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society
HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS
The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.
Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.
studentaid.gov
hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.
WORK AUTHORIZATION
All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)
HOW TO APPLY
All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.