Staff Attorney

The Retreat • Town of Islip, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Retreat is seeking a mission-driven attorney with a deep commitment to trauma-informed practice and a passion for supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. This role sits at the heart of our legal advocacy work - providing direct client representation, advising staff and advocates, and showing up for clients in court and beyond. You will join a close-knit, collaborative team dedicated to holistic, survivor-centered services that meet clients where they are and support their full path to safety and healing.

Requirements

• A J.D. from an accredited law school with admission to the New York State Bar in good standing
• 2-3 years of experience with family court matters
• Passion for working with survivors
• MS Office skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Strong organizational skills
• Must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills/sensitivity to survivors of abuse

Nice To Haves

• Bi-lingual preferred

Responsibilities

• Responsible for providing legal counsel and representation to clients of The Retreat which include victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking in Suffolk County.
• Topics for representation include but are not limited to: child custody; visitation; family offense petition; obtaining a restraining order or order of protection; issues around eviction or safe housing; legal employment obstacles; law enforcement, and other entities on behalf of victims to protect their rights and identity theft and financial fraud; and other interventions, including with administrative agencies where legal assistance would assist in addressing the consequences of a person's victimization. As needed, the attorney will also assist victims in filing motions to vacate and/or expunge certain convictions based on their status of being victims.
• Responsible for working with The Retreat's Advocacy Department as well as the overall Retreat team by answering legal questions and providing counsel that will allow staff to best assist their clients.
• Act as a liaison between The Retreat and The Crime Victims Legal Network (CVLN) through the Office of Victim Services. This includes attending scheduled meetings; facilitating the acceptance of clients through this service, and offering advice, assistance, and legal representation as needed while helping to assure proper data collection.
• Act as a liaison with the Nassau and Suffolk Bar Associations as needed.
• Document client services through The Retreat's database system and keep updated client files including information pertinent to legal matters.
• Work with the Paralegal for administrative, clerical and communication support with internal and external parties who interact with the Attorney and Advocacy departments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level