Temporary Staff Attorney

Full-time

No

Temporary Staff Attorney for Consumer Protection Unit at NYLAG (Entry Level)

NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization advocating for those experiencing poverty or crisis in New York City. We provide comprehensive, free legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. Our goal is to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. We operate in over 150 community sites, including courts, hospitals, and libraries, and our staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 130,000 people last year.

About the Position:
NYLAG is seeking a temporary staff attorney to join our Consumer Protection Unit and staff the Consumer Debt Volunteer Lawyer for the Day Program (VLFD) in the Bronx, Staten Island, and/or Queens. This position is expected to last up to six months and offers a unique opportunity to make a strong impact in an innovative, court-based program designed to increase pro se litigants’ access to justice in an important and evolving area of law.

Key Responsibilities:
• Represent pro se litigants in the Personal Appearance Part of Bronx, Queens, and/or Richmond County Civil Courts on a limited appearance basis for the day.
• Provide support for all aspects of litigation for cases calendared in the court part for the day, including negotiating with opposing counsel, making oral arguments, reviewing stipulations, and drafting and reviewing legal documents.
• Mentor and advise volunteer lawyers participating in the VLFD program.
• Work closely with the Bronx, Queens, and Richmond County CLARO program and local bar associations to coordinate services.
• Meet weekly with project staff to review cases and strategy.
• Work with NYLAG’s Special Litigation Unit to identify patterns and practices ripe for class action lawsuits.

In addition to working on the VLFD Project, the attorney will also support other CPU staff and projects to expand access to services to consumers across New York City. This may include staffing intake sites, providing advice and representation, conducting research, and providing community educational workshops.

Qualifications:
• Admission to the New York State bar. Those who have passed the Bar and are waiting for admission may apply, but must indicate this on their cover letter with an estimated admission date.
• Demonstrated passion for social justice and public service, with a commitment to advancing the rights of historically oppressed and targeted communities.
• Experience litigating in the Consumer Part, practicing consumer law, and general litigation experience are highly preferred.
• Federal court admission is preferred.
• Willingness to litigate in adversarial and charged environments and a thorough understanding of relevant laws and court procedures.
• Highly organized with excellent communication, research, and writing skills.
• Enjoys collaborating with others and able to manage multiple cases and projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to and passion for serving vulnerable New Yorkers and populations of diverse backgrounds.
• Self-directed, dedicated to the work, and committed to ongoing growth and learning.

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
NYLAG is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve to apply.

Employment Type:
? Full-time
? Part-time
? Temporary

Professional Level:
? Entry Level
? Professional
? Managerial

Salary Range:
NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $75,199 and $89,320, dependent on previous legal experience.

Benefits:
Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for medical and dependent care.

Application Instructions:
Please save your resume and cover letter as one PDF. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

COVID Vaccination Policy:
For the health and safety of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

Hybrid Work Policy:
NYLAG has a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. Currently, most staff are required to work in the office or do other in-person work at least two days each week, but this policy is subject to change.

Not specified.

Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Commuter Benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts.

Not specified.

Litigation, Negotiation, Oral Arguments, Legal Research, Writing, Time Management, Communication, Collaboration, Mentoring, Advocacy.

Not specified.

Save resume and cover letter in one PDF and submit.

Qualification and Experience Admission to the New York State Bar, preferably with experience in consumer law and federal court admission.

Legal