Strategic Advocacy Staff Attorney - Albany

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY•Albany, NY

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Attorneys in our Advocacy Department will implement strategies for impactful advocacy for economic and social justice in a broad range of civil legal issues. This requires a systemic approach that addresses deep-seated inequities rather than surface-level issues. The staff attorney will collaborate with other practice areas at LASNNY to identify and challenge systemic civil rights violations and injustices affecting large groups of our clients in various legal fields, such as unequal access to safe housing, employment discrimination, and wrongful denial of public benefits . The staff attorney will center community and co-create solutions providing community legal education and support to community-led advocacy efforts. In strategic impact cases, the staff attorney will plan, develop, file, or defend law suits whose outcome impact more than one individual and that focus on changing laws or protecting the rights of those impacted . In addition to providing direct representation to clients or client groups, the attorney will also utilize all other available advocacy tools to effectively achieve the client's desired goals - from litigation, coalition collaboration, white paper drafting, participation in the rulemaking process, media campaigns, among others.

Requirements

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor and be admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York or be eligible for admission.
Minimum 7 years of post- admission legal experience
Must be willing and able to travel throughout our service area regularly
Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
Experience in initiating affirmative litigation in state and/or federal court
Courtroom experience in civil litigation matters
Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income populations, social justice and equity
Training or experience with community lawyering or community organizing with demonstrated strong listening and relationship-building skills,
Experience, creativity, and willingness to use varied legal and non-legal advocacy tools to advance community-identified initiatives

Nice To Haves

Admission to the US District Court for the Northern District of New York is a plus.
Preferred qualifications include work in one or more of LASNNY's practice areas (family/DV law, housing defense, disability rights, public benefits, consumer, worker and other civil rights), appellate practice, legislative experience, fluency in another language other than English; Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute legal strategies in collaboration with the Advocacy Director, other LASNNY staff, and community partners to address systemic issues
Conduct legal research and provide analysis on complex systemic legal issues
Identify and work collaboratively with other staff and pro bono co-counsel
Draft and review pleadings, briefs, motions, memoranda, advocacy letters, and rulemaking comments
Lead and manage litigation matters from selecting the appropriate plaintiffs/petitioners through trial and/or settlement
Mentor and co-chair with other practice staff attorneys; ensure team compliance with all deadlines and case requirements.
Take, perfect, and argue appeals on a variety of civil legal matters
Work collaboratively with LASNNY staff and community-based organizations to identify new advocacy opportunities that address community-identified systemic legal issues and organizational priorities
Conduct community education, outreach, and build relationships with communities served by LASNNY
Draft educational materials for media and for the larger community
Collaborate with the communications team for litigation efforts, client stories, and impact
And other duties as determined by the Advocacy Director