Staff Attorney

Neighborhood Legal Services Inc

Job Location:

Niagara Falls, NY - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 67222 - 118250

Posted on: Yesterday

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Neighborhood Legal Services is a not-for-profit public interest law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals. Its mission is to seek equitable justice by providing access to legal advice representation and education to those in our community who due to financial vulnerability disability discrimination or abuse require protection and advancement of their civil legal rights. It is the largest non-profit provider of civil legal services in Western New York. Neighborhood Legal Services provides counsel for housing eviction prevention family/divorce public benefits disability advocacy student loans and health insurance. This position is in our Niagara Falls office.

The staff attorney will positively impact clients by maintaining a caseload of public benefits matters. The attorney will assist clients in obtaining or maintaining benefits including Temporary (cash) Assistance SNAP assistance with emergencies including homelessness and overpayments from the Niagara County Department of Social Services. Case work includes reviewing notices and other documents advising clients about their benefits negotiating with NCDSS representing clients at Administrative Fair Hearings and litigation. The Attorney will learn the substantive law develop advocacy skills and learn to identify and work on systemic issues. Training will be provided whether you just passed the bar with admission pending or you are an experienced attorney.

EssentialResponsibilities/ Functions:

Handle all aspects of legal representationincluding client contact pleading preparation research file maintenance hearingandtrialwork and workwith support staff;
Fulfill allgrant and contract requirements through casework time-keeping and record-keeping;
Develop and maintain aworkingknowledgeoftheareasoflawthatimpactourclients;
Identify other legal needs of clients to ensure that NLS can provide holistic representationand referrals;
Collaborate and coordinatewithother NLS staff andcommunity partners toensure effective referrals and holistic service delivery;
Identifysystemicproblemsthataffectourclientsrights;
Conductcommunityoutreacheducationand training;
Demonstratecultural competencyto work with clients of every race ethnicity gender identity sexual orientation socio-economic status age immigrant status religious identity physical and mental disabilities and limited English proficiency;
Maintainacurrentknowledgeofdevelopmentsincivilprocedureand civillitigationlaw;and
Develop an understanding of the social and economic forces that create poverty andinequality inour community.

Qualifications

(consideredif applicanthaspassedthebarexamwithadmissionpending training will be provided)
Demonstratedcommitmentandculturalsensitivitytolow-incomeandunderservedcommunities.
Strong writing skills and verbal communication.
Strong behavioral competencies.
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills.

Previous experience working with low-income and/or underserved communities preferred
Second language fluencypreferred

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

Work in an office environment including working at workstation attending meetings;

Traveling to meetings and hearings off-site;

Use of computer and other office machines such as fax photocopiers and telephones; and

Ability to work in the evenings and weekends as required to serve clients.

Salary

The salary range for this position is $67222.10 $118250.00 depending on experiencewithgenerousbenefitspaidtimeoffandopportunityforstudentloan forgiveness.

How To Apply: To apply please use No phone calls please.

NLS is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply. Employer recruits without regard to race color creed religion national or ethnic origin citizenship ancestry sex gender (including identity or expression) sexual orientation marital status age disability or protected veteran status and any such candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Required Experience:

Staff IC

Neighborhood Legal Services is a not-for-profit public interest law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals. Its mission is to seek equitable justice by providing access to legal advice representation and education to those in our community who due to financial vulnerabi...

Neighborhood Legal Services is a not-for-profit public interest law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals. Its mission is to seek equitable justice by providing access to legal advice representation and education to those in our community who due to financial vulnerability disability discrimination or abuse require protection and advancement of their civil legal rights. It is the largest non-profit provider of civil legal services in Western New York. Neighborhood Legal Services provides counsel for housing eviction prevention family/divorce public benefits disability advocacy student loans and health insurance. This position is in our Niagara Falls office.

The staff attorney will positively impact clients by maintaining a caseload of public benefits matters. The attorney will assist clients in obtaining or maintaining benefits including Temporary (cash) Assistance SNAP assistance with emergencies including homelessness and overpayments from the Niagara County Department of Social Services. Case work includes reviewing notices and other documents advising clients about their benefits negotiating with NCDSS representing clients at Administrative Fair Hearings and litigation. The Attorney will learn the substantive law develop advocacy skills and learn to identify and work on systemic issues. Training will be provided whether you just passed the bar with admission pending or you are an experienced attorney.