Supervising Attorney, Civil Training and Professional Development

The Legal Aid Society • New York, NY

4h • $99,444 - $163,507

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking a Supervising Attorney for our
Civil Training and Professional Development team to assist with general civil
legal services-specific trainings for our Civil Practice, with a particular
focus on providing training and professional development to our Citywide Civil
Units (CCU) including the Economic Equities Project (Community Development Unit,
Consumer Law Unit, Predatory Lending and Foreclosure Project, and Tax Law Unit),
Education Law Practice, Employment Law Unit, Government Benefits & Disability
Advocacy Project, Family Law/DV Unit, and Health Law Unit. The Supervising
Attorney will also play a pivotal role within the Statewide Training Center
initiative.

In consultation with management, the Supervising Attorney will take the lead in
evaluating current training needs and developing protocols and strategies to
respond to changing needs for the CCU teams and statewide for these topics.
Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary practice
and decision-making, prior supervisory responsibility, and a strong civil legal
background, including with both substantive legal matters and training
experience.

The work of the Citywide Civil Units addresses the root causes of
marginalization and the systemic poverty of our diverse client communities.  The
CCU teams work with their colleagues in Housing, Immigration and Law Reform as
well as the Criminal Defense and Juvenile Rights Practices.  In any given year,
the CCUs provide representation in 18,500 cases benefiting 41,500 people and
have further impact through their law reform work for 2.7 million people.  The
CCU teams practice before city, federal and state courts and administrative
forums.  They partner extensively with community partners to provide information
and invest in prevention strategies on the diverse issues of their individual
practices.

Requirements

• Admission to NYS Bar required
• At least 5 years of experience in civil legal services, preferred focus on one of the subjects of the CCU
• Experience in a wide variety of civil legal services matters In administrative and judicial forums
• Knowledge of the intersection of diverse civil legal services issues preferred
• Experience litigating cases in federal and state forums preferred
• Experience advocating and appearing before administrative forums preferred
• Demonstrated commitment and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
• Ability to work in a team setting including strong communication and follow-up skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to manage relationships and effectively communicate with CCU management team and other Civil Practice staff
• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently
• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
• Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values
• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience training or teaching on legal topics preferred
• Prior supervisory experience preferred
• Proficiency in a second language is desirable, but not required

Responsibilities

• Ensure accountability and maintenance of practice standards
• Provide on-going training and professional development to the Citywide Civil Units (CCU)
• Collaborate with CCU management to implement litigation strategies
• Create practice advisories and trainings on new legislation and other topics relevant to clients
• Develop and provide legal and management-related training to CCU management
• Monitor the practices of attorneys after mandatory trainings to evaluate how strategies are integrated into practice
• Assist in the onboarding and mentoring of staff attorneys, paralegals and volunteers, as needed
• Assist in monitoring and maintaining a high standard of representation and client service
• Develop skills and knowledge of staff members
• Work with CCU and other Civil Practice administrative staff, as needed
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
• Represent the Civil Practice and Legal Aid in the community
• Work collaboratively with the Civil Practice Training and Professional Development team on major trainings and other projects as they arise
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Provide support to the Statewide Civil Legal Services Training Center
• Other duties as assigned
• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more.
• The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.
• Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed