Description:
A Non-Profit Organization is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our Government Benefits & Disability Advocacy Project.Program Description:
A Non-Profit Organization fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. SILS provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Staten Island's diverse low-income populations. SILS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients — preserving affordable and decent housing, preventing foreclosures, representing survivors of domestic violence, assisting in obtaining government benefits, obtaining immigration status and preventing deportations, and advocating for the LGBTQ community, students with educational needs and people with disabilities. SILS is a part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), which is the largest provider of civil legal services in the country. LSNYC provides numerous opportunities for growth and professional development and prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore and advocate for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand, and work to realize our DEIB goals.
The Opportunity and Responsibilities:
The Staff Attorney will advocate to retain, obtain, or increase critical public benefits, including cash public assistance, SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, housing subsidies (such as FHEPS), and Unemployment Insurance/Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability (UI/SSI/SSD). They will work on health law issues, helping clients obtain or retain public health insurance and services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care. As part of LSNYC's Disability Advocacy Project, they will represent low-income clients living with physical and/or mental health disabilities in their federal disability claims at the administrative level and the Federal Court level. Responsibilities include interviewing clients, providing legal advice and counseling, case investigation, drafting legal documents, advising clients on benefits eligibility and services as well as a direct representation of clients in administrative proceedings, Civil Court, state Supreme Court, federal court, and partnering with community groups to engage in outreach, education, and actions for change. In addition, the staff attorney will be responsible for administrative tasks, including timekeeping, file maintenance, uploading documents, data reporting, and case closing for grant compliance.
Experience & Qualifications:
- Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and be admitted to practice in New York;
- Strong interest in litigation and working directly with clients;
- Experience with Social Security disability work, including Social Security disability applications, appeals to the ALJ and Appeals Councils, and/or litigation in Federal Court is strongly preferred;
- Strong interest and/or experience in public benefits law is strongly preferred;
- Strong interest and/or experience litigating affirmative cases in the New York State Supreme Court, federal court, and/or other types of litigation/advocacy to create systemic change;
- Strong interest and/or demonstrated commitment to and experience working with individuals living with physical and/or mental health disabilities;
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience working with and providing culturally sensitive services to vulnerable populations;
- Strong interpersonal, teaching/training, and organizational skills;
- Experience working with diverse low-income communities and familiarity with structural and systemic racism and their intersection with poverty;
- Excellent leadership, analytical, oral, and written communication skills; and
- Strong time management and organizational skills.
