Attorney - Consumer Finance

STAFF ATTORNEY - CONSUMER FINANCE

Staff Attorney for the Consumer Law Project of Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York in Albany, New York, serving Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Columbia and Greene Counties and on occasion  other counties in LASNNY's 16 county service area.  This Consumer Law Project, which is part of LASNNY''s Economic Justice Project, is dedicated to securing economic security, fairness and protection in economic transactions and to securing justice for low income consumers. The LASNNY Consumer Law Project focuses on the financial well-being of low income households by protecting income and assets, securing access to the necessities of life, including a financial life, promoting a fresh start when needed, mitigating financial crises related to or the cause of other household crises and assisting low income household to make informed economic and financial choices.    

Responsibilities:  The Attorney will be responsible for providing legal assistance to clients in consumer law matters involving the essentials of economic  life: utility disputes and shut offs, consumer debt including medical and student loan debt, wage garnishment, frozen assets, debt management, bankruptcy, automobile repossession and violations of debt collection, credit reporting and other consumer protection statutes.  The attorney will be expected to provide a full range of legal services, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, bankruptcy proceedings, administrative hearings, counsel and advice, consumer debt clinic, and community legal education.

Qualifications: 1-6 years' prior legal experience or equivalent.  Admitted to New York State Bar. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to helping consumers address individual and systemic problems related to economic security and stability and to providing high quality legal services to low income clients.  Must be expert or become expert in a broad range of consumer issues and law, practice expertly in many forums in five counties and conduct an effective educational consumer debt clinic.  Must be able to identify and address systemic legal problems, and work collaboratively with Consumer Law Project and other LASNNY staff to ensure delivery of a full range of legal services to clients served by the Albany office.  Occasional travel required to co-counsel and/or conduct litigation or other advocacy strategies in other counties of the service area to advance the training and systemic advocacy goals of LASNNY. Must be intelligent, hardworking, careful, reliable, have good judgment, and attention to detail. Must be able to communicate effectively with clients and staff, and work independently and efficiently. Good computer skills.  Must have a car and a clean, valid driver's license. Ability to speak Spanish and demonstrated creativity and experience in using varied legal tools and strategies to secure systemic outcomes on behalf of low income consumers is strongly preferred.

Salary:  $46,307 to $59,700 DOE; excellent benefits

Closing:  June 1, 2018

To apply, please go to www.lasnny.org OR

1) Complete the Application linked here, or the mobile-friendly application linked here

2) Complete the Demographic Survey linked here

No applications will be accepted without a writing sample, cover letter and resume.

We are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  Minorities, women, the elderly, LGBT, applicants and recipients of public assistance and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.