Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a leading not-for-profit civil legal services organization advocating for adults, children, and families that are experiencing poverty or have low income. We tackle the legal challenges and systematic barriers that threaten our clients’ economic stability, well-being, and safety. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and constantly improving how we respond to systemic issues of racism that affect our clients in their pursuit of justice. We address emerging and urgent needs with comprehensive, free civil legal services, direct representation, impact litigation, policy advocacy, financial counseling, medical-legal partnerships, and community education and partnerships. Last year, we affected the lives of 90,800 people.
Mission
The New York Legal Assistance Group uses the power of the law to help New Yorkers in need combat social and economic injustice. We address emerging and urgent legal needs with comprehensive, free civil legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community education.
Values that guide us
- We reduce the effects of poverty by providing high quality, effective civil legal services.
- We partner with our clients to help them transform their lives and strengthen their communities.
- We address our clients’ multiple legal needs by collaborating across our practice areas.
- We are at the forefront of identifying and understanding New Yorkers’ most pressing legal needs, rapidly adapting to meet these needs with innovative programs and partnerships.
- We assess need broadly, recognizing that need is not a function of income alone.
- We collaborate with community organizations and engage pro bono attorneys and volunteers to serve a greater number of people with unmet civil legal needs.
- We achieve systemic change through class actions, impact litigation and by advocating for just laws and policies.
- We work to create a welcoming and inclusive work environment that reflects the communities we serve.
- We teach and train the next generation of legal service professionals.
Job Description:
LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), is seeking a staff attorney for its Veterans Initiative with a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and an interest in working with veterans. LegalHealth partners with medical professionals in 36 hospitals in New York to address the non-medical needs of low-income people with serious health problems. LegalHealth complements health care with legal care – providing free legal services on site in medical facilities as well as training healthcare professionals to understand the legal issues their patients may encounter.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The attorney will be responsible for staffing LegalHealth’s Northport VA Hospital Legal Clinic, providing on-site legal services to local veterans in a wide range of issues including: veterans benefits, discharge upgrades, other public benefits, housing, employment, and advance planning. The attorney will also be responsible for some training of medical staff to foster better communication and stronger relationships. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our services are currently remote.
Qualifications:
LegalHealth seeks a highly committed attorney who has two to three years of prior and relevant experience, preferably working with veterans, is admitted to practice law in New York, has excellent communication skills, and has strong research and writing skills. Moreover it is critically important that this person has the ability to both empathize with the clients’ challenges and help to problem solve. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs preferred.
The position will require frequent travel in Nassau and Suffolk counties, primarily to the VA medical center in Northport, the District Court in Hempstead (for housing cases), and SSA ODAR in Jericho (for Social Security hearings). Therefore, the attorney must be able to travel to these sites. In addition, the attorney will also be expected to commute to NYLAG's main office in Manhattan on an occasional basis. Preference will be given to candidates who are from/currently live in the Nassau/Suffolk area.
NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employment type:
☒ Full-time
Professional Level:
☒ Professional
Salary:
Salary is commensurate with experience
Benefits: Excellent benefits.
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