Description:
A Non-Profit Law Firm seeks to fill an immediate opening for a full time Staff Attorney in its Family Law Unit. The attorney will represent qualified, low and middle income individuals in custody, family offense, neglect, and child support cases. The attorney position will also provide victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with specialized legal advice and representation in Family Court and other civil matters that affect their safety, stability and financial security. The candidate must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help low-income people overcome crisis situations.Staff Attorneys at LawNY® provide 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. Staff Attorneys play a critical role in realizing LawNY®'s vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Every Staff Attorney is expected to actively engage in learning and becoming increasingly skilled in practice that supports this vision.
About Geneva
The Geneva office serves Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties which are located in the northern part of the Finger Lakes region of Western New York, an area noted for its beautiful lakes, scenery, and quality agriculture. Geneva is home to Hobart and William Smith Colleges and is seated on the northern shore of Seneca Lake, ideal for swimming, fishing, and boating. Notable nearby museums include the Sonnenberg Gardens, National Women's Hall of Fame, and the Peter Whitmer Log Home.
Geneva has a slightly lower than average cost of living with a median home price of $176,000 and a number of 1 bedroom apartments available for around $900/month.
Qualifications These are the basic requirements for the position.
- Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State, eligible for admission without examination, or willing to take the next available Bar examination.
- Demonstrated commitment of service to low-income people.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Responsibilities These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.
- Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients in Family Court.
- Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in Family Court matters, particularly: family offense, custody and visitation, child support violations, abuse and neglect proceedings.
- Provides legal services to low income clients and client groups regarding Family Law including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy.
- Interacts respectfully with clients 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.
- Contributes to a safe and healthy work environment for fellow employees.
- Cooperates in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing and compliance review.
- Maintains 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.
Additional Traits and Skills These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak 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. LawNY® encourages each candidate to think about their own personal knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as professional skills and experience in relation to this list.
- Litigation and advocacy experience in state and/or federal court and/or administrative forums within at least one other area of poverty law, especially landlord-tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, fair housing, and government benefits.
- Experience incorporating an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into legal practice.
- An understanding of the concepts of structural and institutional racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services.
- Lived experience with our client communities.
- True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
- Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
