Staff Attorney - Fair Housing

LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF WESTERN NEW YORK, INC.

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT (September 2022)

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

FULL-TIME STAFF ATTORNEY

The Rochester office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney to work in the Fair Housing Enforcement Project (FHEP). The staff attorney will be responsible for providing direct representation to clients in cases involving housing discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, gender, religion, familial status and disability.  The level of services provided to clients range from advice and brief service to representing clients in litigation filed in federal court or the Division of Human Rights. 

LawNY is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in a fourteen-county area of western New York. LawNY values and promotes a collaborative environment and a healthy work life balance.  Staff are offered a hybrid workplace and flexible schedules are possible. LawNY is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We strive to transcend the construct of race and be an anti-racist law firm. Staff are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work each day and to celebrate every aspect of who they are.

LawNY maintains an extensive safe operations plan and seeks to ensure the safety of both our staff and our clients. All staff are still required to fulfill their professional obligations, which will require direct in-person contact with clients and in-person appearances in court or administrative agencies as needed to perform the functions of their role.

Core responsibilities include:

• Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients facing housing discrimination.
• Provide training and assistance to community-based organizations.
• Advocate in a variety of legal settings, including administrative forums and state and federal courts.
• Collaborate with other LawNY advocates, the private bar, human services providers, non-profit organizations and community, client or other advocacy groups to address the issues facing directly-impacted community members, including providing community legal education.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop, implement, and maintain a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment.
• Maintain a high level of professional competence through attendance at training sessions, seminars and conferences and individual efforts to keep abreast of current developments in the area of poverty law, the application of a race equity lens to client service, as well as issues in the community affecting low-income people.

Requirements:

• Admission to the New York State Bar, Admission on Motion or eligibility for a temporary practice order is required.
• Applicants should have a sincere and demonstrated commitment to race equity.
• A strong commitment to advocating on behalf of marginalized people.
• Strong legal research and writing skills.

Desired skills: the ideal candidate will have many of the following qualifications:

• Experience with the courts and agencies in our service area, or capability to successfully build relationships with directly impacted community members, courts, and community agencies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for a wide variety of audiences, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with staff, clients and community members.
• Prior legal experience, particularly with low-income and other oppressed communities and clients.
• Understanding of the principles of race equity analysis and the intersection of racism and poverty and their application to LawNY’s organizational life and to our work.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for a wide variety of audiences.
• Strong fact-gathering and interview skills
• Strong problem-solving, time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to empathize and sensitively respond to people in crisis situations.
• Excellent use of Google Workspace, Word, and Excel; database programs a plus.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language spoken by our clients is an advantage but is not required.
• Lived experience with our client communities is an advantage but is not required.
• Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY.

Salary and Benefits:  Salary is dependent on years of relevant experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The entry level annual salary for a newly admitted attorney with no practice experience is $51,820 and increases to $57,820 for an attorney with five years of experience.  We provide a superlative package of fringe benefits including:

• 94% employer paid health insurance (with significant HSA contributions to offset high deduction plans)
• 100% employer paid dental and disability insurance
• $50,000 automatic life insurance

We also provide a very generous leave package including, in the first year of employment, four weeks of vacation, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 floating holidays. New parents receive 20 day of paid new parent leave provided by LawNY.

LawNY is a qualifying public service loan forgiveness employer and a participant in the LSC loan repayment assistance program.

To Apply: To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references through LawNY’s BambooHR platform by September 23, 2022, to ensure full consideration. Applications will be accepted beyond that date until the position is filled. The letter of interest should highlight the applicant's commitment to advocating for justice for people who experience marginalization because of their race or social or economic status.

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We are striving to transcend the construct of race and be an anti-racist law firm. We encourage staff to bring their whole selves to work each day and pledge to celebrate every aspect of who they are. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for applicants who have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.

This position is considered exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.