Attorney in Bronx, NY

Public Interest

Bronx, NY

Attorney in Bronx, NY

Attorney

No

Job Title
**Members Only** Legal Fellowship

Job Responsibilities
**Members Only** Legal Fellowship invites third-year law students and recent law school graduates to work as Legal Fellows. Fellows will develop project proposals for submission to Equal Justice Works, Skadden, and similar programs, as well as law-school specific fellowships. The aim is to conduct legal work in one of the organization's practice areas, with flexibility to adapt to the needs of the organization and the community it serves. Successful fellowship proposals from prior years have included:
- Developing a program to assist individuals in litigating in small claims court due to injuries or damages from police encounters.
- Ending the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for individuals unable to pay traffic tickets through representation, litigation, and legislative advocacy.
- Providing direct representation to fathers in neglect, abuse, and termination of parental rights proceedings and conducting Know Your Rights As Fathers trainings.
- Registering New Yorkers under parole supervision to vote and enforcing new parole enfranchisement laws while advocating for universal suffrage.
- Offering direct representation to individuals facing employment discrimination due to criminal convictions by assisting in obtaining Certificates of Rehabilitation and educating employers about the employment rights of formerly incarcerated individuals.

Education and Experience Information
To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must be recent law school graduates and either admitted to the New York bar or actively pursuing admission, with the ability to practice under supervision as a law graduate.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- A commitment to defending individuals involved in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal systems.
- A dedication to challenging systemic injustice and carceral systems through advocacy and strategic challenges to authority.
- Experience working with racially and ethnically marginalized communities affected by systemic injustice.
- The ability to communicate, collaborate, and connect effectively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds.
- The ability to work both independently and collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers.
- Strong research, writing, and courtroom advocacy skills.
- The ability to use non-legal resources to support individuals represented.
- The ability to multitask, maintain order, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
- Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to think critically and creatively.
- The capacity to receive constructive feedback and adjust behavior accordingly.
- The ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality around sensitive issues.

Additional Immigration Practice Qualification:
- A valid driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one, is required as the role sometimes necessitates travel to detention facilities outside of NYC where clients are held. Vehicles are provided.

If hired, applicants must have taken the New York State Bar Examination and submitted materials for Pro Hac Vice admission or waiver.

Salary Information
If selected for a fellowship and sponsorship with the organization, the fellowship compensation will be supplemented to ensure a salary consistent with the attorney salary scale, starting at $83,504. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.

Approximately 70% of the organization's staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit and is exempt, meaning exempt employees are not entitled to overtime compensation.

Application Process
To apply, candidates must submit their resume and a one-page cover letter in one document, specifying the practice area they wish to join and providing a brief description of their fellowship project idea or issues they aim to address. The cover letter should also explain the candidate's motivation for pursuing this work and include any relevant experiences that prepare them for the position. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. The start date for this position is Fall 2026.

An online information session about the Legal Fellowship will be offered on June 27, 2025. The application deadline is July 1, 2025, with interviews scheduled for early July.

The organization is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an anti-oppressive workplace that embraces diversity in backgrounds, identities, and experiences. The organization encourages applications from marginalized communities, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent, and those directly impacted by various legal systems. Applications from the Bronx community are particularly welcome.