Staff Attorney
Staff Attorney
Position: Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. will hire several staff attorneys who will be assigned to one of our offices in Utica and Binghamton based on the needs of the local communities served. Responsibilities: Staff Attorneys engage in exciting and interesting comprehensive legal representation including advice, negotiation, litigation, and administrative advocacy. LSCNY staff attorneys represent clients in essentials-of-life matters like housing, public benefits, unemployment insurance, employment matters, consumer, education, and other civil matters. Attorneys collaborate in teams led by an experienced supervisor. Housing cases, especially eviction defense, are a substantial portion of the attorney’s caseload. Our attorneys regularly appear in the City, Town, and Village Courts across our region in eviction cases. Attorneys are encouraged to work on advocacy and projects beyond individual casework. Attorneys are expected to conduct community outreach and work to build essential partnerships with local community organizations. Hybrid work is available subject to the terms of a negotiated agreement.
Our Organization: Legal Services of Central New York (LSCNY) is committed to achieving justice for low-income people and those who have difficulty accessing the justice system. We are deeply committed to principles of anti-racism and race equity in all we do. For more than 55 years, we have sought to make a difference in clients’ lives and their communities by eliminating the barriers that cause poverty or reduce our clients’ access to economic mobility. We continually search for ways to help people improve their lives and communities.
Qualifications: Candidates admitted or eligible for admission to the bar of the State of New York are preferred. LSCNY will consider 2022 law school graduates. Attributes of a successful candidate are: A commitment to providing high quality legal assistance to low-income and under-served populations. A commitment to race equity, anti-racism, and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services. Analytical, legal writing, and advocacy skills. Organizational and interpersonal skills. The ability to work independently and collaboratively. The ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Bilingual or multi-lingual is a plus. Opportunities for Professional Development: LSCNY is committed to creating opportunities for development and career advancement. We invest in skills, substantive law, and leadership training for our staff. We encourage attorneys to become active in the state and local bar associations and local community organizations.
Application: Applications must include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. LSCNY invites applicants to include in their cover letter a statement of how your unique background and experience might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice. Director of Human Resources Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. 221 South Warren Street, Suite 300 Syracuse, New York 13202 Email: hiring@lscny.org Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring, retaining, and promoting so we can be more creative, effective, and just, bringing more varied perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, talents, and interests to the practice of law and the administration of justice. We accept, respect, and value differences that include attributes such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, language, socioeconomic status, marital and parental status, national origin, immigration status, and cultural background. We strongly encourage individuals with historically marginalized identities to apply.
Closing date: Closing date for applications: when filled. Salary/Benefits: Starting salaries for a New York admitted attorney range from $52,750 to $83,540 depending on experience. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. We have an excellent benefits package and a generous leave policy. LSCNY pays for bar memberships, attorney registration, and training opportunities, including Mandatory Continuing Legal Education courses.