Director, Legal Services Fund

BLDG SVC 32 B-J•New York, NY

14d

About The Position

The Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund supports a large, and geographically diverse membership base of approximately 100,000 active members annually. While not all eligible members access legal services each year, the Fund is responsible for ensuring access, coverage, and compliance for this population across multiple jurisdictions and areas of law. The Fund provides coverage across a broad range of legal matters, with Immigration matters representing the largest share of cases, followed by Matrimonial and Family Law matters. These legal services are provided by Staff Attorneys, who are directly employed by the Fund and primarily handle matters arising in New York City, and Cooperating Attorneys (CA), who are external counsel retained and paid by the Fund to handle cases outside New York City, matters involving conflict of interest, or cases requiring geographic reach beyond the Fund's in-house capacity. The Legal Services Fund is supported by a team of 58 professionals, consisting of 16 staff attorneys, 10 paralegals, 10 intake specialists, 4 legal assistants, 7 operations staff, and 11 management staff members. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director, Legal Services Fund is responsible for the administration of the Building Service 32BJ Legal Services Fund, ensuring that the Fund provides high-quality legal services that meet the changing needs of the members while making the most efficient use of the funds available through bargaining. This role has enterprise-wide oversight responsibility for all Legal Fund activities, leadership, governance, legal policy, budgetary control, and escalation management for complex, novel legal matters. The Director, Legal Services Fund works across member-facing and operational departments to ensure appropriate utilization and effective delivery of Legal Fund benefits, and also serves as a strategic advocate for systemic improvements in the courts and legal oversight bodies — advancing reforms that enhance justice, streamline legal processes, and expand protections for Fund members.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school required; Master of Laws (LLM) or equivalent advanced legal degree a plus
Admission to the New York State Bar and active membership in good standing required
Significant experience in relevant legal practice and/or senior-level management within a legal services, nonprofit, governmental, or comparable organization required
Relevant legal experience in any of the following areas is desirable: Immigration, Matrimonial, Family, Estate, Civil, Real Property and Criminal Trial and Appellate work
Exposure engaging in systemic advocacy or legal reform efforts aimed at improving court systems, legal processes, or access to justice
Knowledge of legal developments and practice trends in areas aligned with the Fund's services and member needs
Well organized and able to manage major projects with competing priorities and deadlines
Ability to apply technological tools, such as spreadsheet and database, to identify trends and solve administrative problems and support data-driven decision-making
Excellent written and verbal skills required to communicate the organization’s goals and mission
Demonstrated sound judgement, discretion, and decision making skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and evaluate options
Ability to adapt to evolving priorities, changing legal landscapes, and emerging organizational needs
Skilled in diplomacy and relationship-building
Capacity to serve as a though leader on court modernization, legal system reform, and access-to-justice issues, influencing broader legal discourse.
Ability to lead and inspire the department as a whole and to advance strategic goals and priorities of the Fund
Ability to work successfully and collaboratively with internal and external constituencies, including the Executive Director, the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, senior staff of the Benefit Funds, union and industry leaders, Fund co-counsel, consultants and others

Nice To Haves

Master of Laws (LLM) or equivalent advanced legal degree a plus
Relevant legal experience in any of the following areas is desirable: Immigration, Matrimonial, Family, Estate, Civil, Real Property and Criminal Trial and Appellate work
Admission to the Federal Bar (e.g., SDNY/EDNY) or another US District Court required, admission in New Jersey is a plus

Responsibilities

Works with the Executive Director to develop the goals, mission and strategic direction of the Fund
Reports to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the Board and implements the decisions of the Board
Identifies opportunities for program expansion, pilot initiatives, or service redesign aligned with Fund resources
Works with Executive and Senior Staff of the Funds to promote the goals of the Benefit Funds as an organization
Represents the Fund externally with unions, policymakers, community partners, and professional organizations as appropriate
Drives modernization initiatives including technology upgrades, data and reporting enhancements, and improved data governance practices
Develops and updates legal policies, operational guidelines, and compliance framework across internal and external service channels.
Ensures that the quality of legal services meets industry standards and is in compliance with the rules of the Appellate Division as well as the Code of Professional Conduct
Serves as attorney-of-record accountability point for the Appellate Division, including oversight of staff attorney licensing requirements and direct supervision of IOLA accounts and member escrow funds
Provides legal guidance and mentorship to supervisors, staff attorneys, and paralegals on substantive law, procedure, and state statutes
Establishes and maintains a Quality Assurance program to ensure that the Fund is operated efficiently and consistently to meet the needs of the members and to keep up with changes in the law
Personally handle all complex Criminal matters and oversee Cooperating Attorney case processing
Maintain expertise in all cases handled by Fund
Accountable for all Legal Fund matters across jurisdictions, ensure quality, consistency, compliance, and alignment with Fund policies and governing law
Serve as escalation authority for complex, novel legal criminal cases
Directs the day to day operations of the Legal Fund, directly and through delegated authority
Provides strategic leadership over legal technology, case management systems, data governance, and operational modernization initiatives
Uses data and outcome measures to assess service impact and continuously improve member experience
Responsible for recruitment of Cooperating Attorneys and monitoring of program
Leads governance of the Cooperating Attorney network, including onboarding, performance monitoring, rate-setting, and invoice review.
Manage multi-jurisdictional service delivery models and adapts services to evolving member geographic patterns, including retirees.
Establishes, monitors and maintains the Department’s budget and the short and long-term fiscal health of the Fund
Oversee expenditures and billing structures to ensure fiscal stewardship and cost control
Leads the recruitment, training, professional development, performance management, and succession planning of Fund staff, including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative personnel
Advocates for systemic improvements within the courts and legal oversight bodies to strengthen the protection, recognition, and administration of the Legal Fund benefits for members
Engages in policy and systems-level advocacy with courts, judicial administrators, and legal regulatory entities to address structural barriers and improve member access to justice
Collaborates with Member Engagement, Communications, Training Fund, and other internal partners to ensure coordinated service delivery.
Designs and collaborates on member education programs to promote understanding and appropriate utilization of legal benefits.
Develop and oversee outreach and training program to educated members on legal rights and benefits
Performs other functions as necessary or as assigned