Domestic Relations Staff Attorney - Plattsburgh Office

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY•Plattsburgh, NY

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY), a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking a Domestic Relations Staff Attorney for its Plattsburgh office. LASNNY serves sixteen counties in Upstate New York across six regional offices. The organization is unionized and offers excellent benefits, including generous time off, health insurance with premiums primarily paid by LASNNY, long-term disability insurance, retirement contributions, tuition reimbursement, qualifying moving expenses, and flexible hybrid-remote and alternative work schedules. LASNNY values diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.

Requirements

Must be licensed to practice in NYS or be eligible for admission.
Demonstrated commitment to providing high quality legal services to low-income clients and in addressing systemic inequities in the education system.
Must be able to identify and address systemic legal problems and work collaboratively with other LASNNY staff to ensure delivery of a full range of legal services to clients served by the Albany office.
Must be intelligent, hardworking, careful, reliable, have good judgment, and attention to detail.
Must be able to communicate effectively with clients, staff and educators and work independently and efficiently.
Proficient computer skills.
Reliable transportation.
Occasional travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

Strong preference for lived experience.
Prior experience with community lawyering or community organizing.
Ability to communicate in Chinese or Spanish.
Demonstrated creativity and experience in using varied legal tools and strategies to secure systemic outcomes on behalf of low-income clients.

Responsibilities

Provide legal assistance to eligible clients within the Family and Supreme Courts in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties in the area of Domestic Relations Law.
Work collaboratively with government and nonprofit agencies that provide supportive services for litigants in Family and Supreme Courts.
Provide legal assistance in domestic relations proceedings in Family and Supreme Courts, including custody, visitation, abuse/neglect, child/spousal support, matrimonial, and family offense proceedings.
Provide a full range of legal services, including counsel and advice, referrals, representation in administrative hearings, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach and engagement, and community lawyering.
Ensure requirements and compliance therewith and work collaboratively with other LASNNY domestic relations attorneys/paralegals to maximize access to LASNNY services and address systemic issues that arise from proceedings in Family and Supreme Courts.
Participate in the development and implementation of LASNNY's race equity priority and their professional development plan.