Consultation Attorney, Family Law Project, Queens Family Justice Center

Sanctuary For Families•Kew Gardens, NY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sanctuary for Families seeks an experienced family law attorney to provide legal consultations and pro se services to Queens Family Justice Center clients who need assistance with family offense, custody and visitation, child and spousal support proceedings, and matrimonial matters. The Consultation Attorney provides civil legal screenings and consultations, helps clients prepare pro se petitions and other filings, represents a limited caseload, and coordinates and conducts pro se clinics. The role also provides technical assistance to Family Justice Center partner agencies; conducts community outreach, training, and education in Queens; participates in advocacy committees and task forces; and collaborates with other agencies to advance systemic change. The Consultation Attorney coordinates and supervises staff attorneys, project assistants, pro bono attorneys, interns, and volunteers. The position is based at the Queens Family Justice Center office, follows a currently hybrid work schedule, and reports to the Director and Senior Program Director of the Family Law Project at the Queens Family Justice Center.

Requirements

J.D. degree.
Admission to the New York Bar.
At least 3 years of relevant family law experience.
Strong lawyering, advocacy, and leadership skills.
Enjoy working collaboratively and be comfortable speaking in public.
Be highly motivated to provide zealous, knowledgeable, culturally competent, and empathic legal advocacy to domestic violence victims.
Ability to work well with people from diverse communities and backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in a community language, including Mandarin, Korean, Arabic, Haitian-Creole, Spanish, or Russian; preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide initial civil legal screenings and necessary follow-up legal consultations to clients seeking family law assistance, including drafting pro se petitions and other filings.
Work with the Director and Senior Program Director to create, implement, coordinate, and conduct ongoing family law legal clinics that assist clients with drafting pro se petitions for Family and Supreme Courts.
Collaborate with family law projects across the five Family Justice Centers and other Sanctuary for Families legal projects to develop and coordinate pro se services and clinics.
Coordinate and supervise staff attorneys, project assistants, pro bono attorneys, interns, and volunteers.
Help recruit, select, hire, and onboard project assistants in collaboration with the Director and Senior Program Director.
Assist the Director and Senior Program Director with staff performance evaluations.
Participate with the Director and Senior Program Director in internal management audits and reviews, and design and implement program improvements using outcome-based evaluations and other tools.
Represent a limited number of clients in matrimonial, family offense, custody and visitation, and child and spousal support matters.
Provide other advocacy as needed, including in the criminal legal and child protective systems.
Facilitate clients’ access to internal and external resources, and administer direct financial assistance and donations to clients.
Provide technical assistance to Family Justice Center partner agencies.
Conduct community outreach, training, and education.
Participate in advocacy committees and task forces and collaborate with other agencies to advocate for systemic change.
Attend interagency conferences and legal and bar association committee meetings to stay informed about pro bono work, domestic violence, and legal remedies for victims of domestic violence.
Perform other department- or agency-related duties and special projects as directed by a supervisor.