Temp-to-Perm Staff Attorney

About NYLAG:

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 370 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job description

NYLAG’s Legal Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “S.D.N.Y. Pro Se Clinic”) has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney. This position will be temporary through September 2024 with the potential to transition into a permanent role contingent on the grant that supports the Pro Se Clinic being renewed for the term commencing October 1, 2024.

The S.D.N.Y. Pro Se Clinic provides free, limited-scope, individual legal assistance to pro se litigants at all stages of federal civil litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. This innovative clinic is among the first in the nation to provide pro se assistance in federal court, and has recently expanded to provide legal assistance to incarcerated litigants. The S.D.N.Y. Pro Se Clinic assists with most types of federal civil cases, including civil rights, employment discrimination, labor law, Section 1983 law enforcement misconduct, intellectual property, challenges to conditions of confinement, and violations of fair housing law. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a lawyer interested in strengthening their federal civil litigation skills. The attorney selected for this position will have the unique opportunity to provide direct legal assistance to self-represented individuals in the S.D.N.Y. by: 

• Conducting initial assessments of a legal claim(s) or defense(s);
• Counseling on filing cases in federal court, including jurisdictional issues;
• Providing substantive and procedural legal advice on questions that may arise at any stage of litigation (e.g., motion practice, discovery, and litigation strategy);
• Reviewing, editing, and drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, and other court filings;
• Reviewing court orders, opposition pleadings, discovery processes, and court rules and procedures with pro se litigants; 
• Assisting with preparation for pretrial conferences, hearings, settlement conferences, mediations, and other court appearances; 
• Assisting with referrals for placement with pro bono counsel for depositions, settlement conferences, mediations, and other case needs; and
• Providing referrals to other legal and non-legal services providers, including mental health agencies.

The attorney selected for this position must be prepared to interact with a diverse pro se litigant population from different backgrounds, cultures, and personal situations in a sensitive and professional manner. The successful candidate will be an integral part of the Clinic team consisting of the Clinic director, three staff attorneys, and three paralegals. The Clinic’s primary office is at 40 Foley Square in Manhattan.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Staff the S.D.N.Y. Pro Se Clinic;
• Screen pro se litigants for services and make referrals (internal and external), as appropriate;
• Conduct pro se litigant interviews, factual investigation, analysis of legal issues, and legal research;
• Provide direct legal assistance and advice to pro se litigants;
• Review, edit, and draft legal documents, pleadings, motions, and briefs;
• Quality data entry, recording, and reporting; 
• Maintain files and attorney work product;
• Keep abreast of the law and procedures within their area of practice;
• Mentor law students, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys;
• Foster a productive relationship with courthouse staff who serve pro se litigants;
• Develop resources and tools that will assist pro se litigants; and
• Any other duties and responsibilities related to Clinic operations.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the New York State Bar.
• Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• At least 2 years’ experience practicing law.

Additional Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to and interest in improving access to the courts and judicial system for people who do not have a lawyer.
• A high-level of comfort with and knowledge of federal court practice, preferably as a result of substantial federal court experience.
• Experience practicing law across a range of subject matter areas, particularly involving employment discrimination law and/or civil rights law (particularly 42 U.S.C. § 1983).
• Excellent people and client counseling skills, preferably with experience in a high-volume legal services context.
• Demonstrated patience, empathy, persistence, and openness in delivering client services.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, internally (as a team member) and externally (in the courts and on behalf of clients).
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent research, writing, and analytic abilities.
• Creative, proactive problem-solving skills and ability to pivot, reprioritize, and triage high case load based on immediate need.
• Highly organized and ability to juggle multiple priorities.

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type: 

☒ Full-time

☒ Temporary-to-Permanent (Temporary through September 2024 with the potential to transition into a permanent role contingent on the grant that supports the Pro Se Clinic being renewed for the term commencing October 1, 2024.)

Professional Level: 
☒ Professional

Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $79,683-$94,503.

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter as one PDF document. Applicants without a cover letter will not be considered.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.