POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS (January 2020) THREE STAFF ATTORNEY POSITIONS: (GENEVA, NY)
The Geneva office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) has immediate
openings for three Staff Attorneys to join our Geneva, New York office. The attorney positions
focus on assisting low-income individuals to overcome legal barriers in the areas of housing,
family, and elder law. Both new attorneys and experienced attorneys are encouraged to apply.
Position 1: Housing Law Staff Attorney
The housing attorney position is an opportunity to join our housing advocacy team. The
attorney hired for this position should be prepared to work in a variety of legal settings,
including but not limited to litigation in various levels of New York state and federal courts,
appellate practice, bankruptcy practice, mediations and negotiations, transactional work and
administrative law hearings. The successful attorney will primarily advocate in the following
subject areas: landlord/tenant, fair housing, foreclosure due to delinquency on mortgages or
property taxes, low-income homeowner issues, federal and state housing programs, code
enforcement, mobile homes, redevelopment and land use, homelessness, TANF/Safety Net,
SNAP, bankruptcy, consumer issues, and the intersection of all these issues with racial justice.
Position 2: Family Law Staff Attorney
The family law opening is ideal for attorneys seeking litigation careers. The position requires
frequent appearances in courts throughout our service area, with an emphasis on family law
and domestic violence law. The staff attorney will work primarily on the assigned counsel on
matters pending in Wayne County Family Court. These cases include custody/visitation,
protective orders, child support violations, and child abuse/neglect matters. The attorney will
also assist with matters funded by the NYS Office of Victim Services. Such cases often involve
representing clients who are victims of domestic violence, as well as victims of other crimes.
Position 3: Elder Law Staff Attorney
The elder law attorney will join our team of advocates who handle matters referred by our
local Offices for the Aging. The attorney will work with clients in the following areas: estate
planning, estate administration, Power of Attorney and Advance Medical Directive planning,
Medicaid planning and advocacy; Social Security Administration advocacy, housing and
nursing home advocacy, elder abuse, consumer law, and other legal matters critical to aging
adults. The ideal candidate will develop relationships with local funders and stakeholders,
conduct outreach and capacity building presentations, and manage legal clinics.
Requirements: Applicants should have relevant legal experience and a demonstrated
commitment to working with low-income individuals and families, as well as excellent oral and
written communication skills. Applicants must also be committed to working in an efficient and detail-oriented environment. Working with other LawNY staff members and the community, the
attorney will help develop strategies, including affirmative litigation, to address systemic problems
that adversely impact poor people. Law school graduates who have taken the first available New
York State Bar examination following completion of law school may qualify for a practice order
pending admission to the New York State Bar pursuant to the LawNY practice order. Fluency
in Spanish is a preference but not a requirement.
Program: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.(LawNY) is a not-for-profit law firm
which works to eliminate barriers to justice by providing civil legal services to low-income
clients in a fourteen-county region in the Finger Lakes and western New York State. The
Geneva office serves five of those fourteen counties (Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and
Yates) and provides representation primarily in the areas of housing, family law, government
benefits, elder law, education, civil rights and consumer law. We work to achieve individual
and systemic change through litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership with
community organizations. Our 30 member Geneva staff includes attorneys, paralegals, and a
legal support team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach
to addressing law related issues affecting our clients and communities.
Salary: Salary is competitive and dependent on years of relevant experience. The entry level
annual salary for a newly admitted attorney with no practice experience is $50,000 and
increases to $56,000 for an attorney with five years of experience. LawNY provides an
excellent benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, generous leave
provisions, retirement plan, paid parental leave, disability coverage, a flexible and
accommodating work schedule, and numerous opportunities for professional development
and other benefits.
Procedure: Applicants should submit the following: 1) a cover letter describing qualifications;
2) resume; 3) the name and contact information of three references; and 4) a legal writing
sample by January 20, 2020 to ensure full consideration. Applications, however, will be
considered on a rolling basis. Applications should be sent to the attention of Managing
Attorney, Gavin Reynolds, via email to: lawnyapplications@lawny.org.
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) is an equal opportunity employer.
LawNY encourages applications from diverse candidates. LawNY welcomes applications
regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy,
national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by
law. This position is considered exempt under the FLSA. |