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Posted by: Special Litigation Unit - 8/18/2022
Job Expires: 11/18/2022
Temporary Staff Attorney, Special Education Unit

NYLAG has an immediate opening for a temporary staff attorney in the Special Education Unit (SEU). SEU provides free legal representation to low income New York families seeking an appropriate education for their children with disabilities.  

 

The temporary staff attorney will be an integral part of a team consisting of one supervising attorney and two staff attorneys.

 

About NYLAG:

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 300 impacted the lives of nearly 90,000 people last year.

 

Mission:

New York Legal Assistance Group uses the power of the law to help New Yorkers experiencing poverty or in crisis combat economic, racial, and social injustice. We address emerging and urgent needs with comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving clients, whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality.

 

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: 

The Special Education Unit (SEU), a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), is seeking a temporary staff attorney with demonstrated commitment to public interest law, as well as a strong interest in ensuring that school-aged children with special needs  receive the free appropriate public education (FAPE) guaranteed them pursuant to federal and New York State law.  SEU emphasizes the need to educate parents of their rights, and to advocate on their behalf when the New York City Department of Education (DOE) fails to provide their children with a FAPE.  

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

The attorney will be responsible for, among other things: filing Due Process Complaints; attending impartial hearings; filing appeals to the State Review Office and federal court when necessary; negotiating stipulations of settlement with the DOE; and participating in meetings to develop Individualized Education Programs.

 

Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated interest in Special Education Law;
  • Strong legal research, writing, communication and advocacy skills;
  • Ability to work collaboratively with SEU colleagues;
  • Foreign language ability preferred;
  • Eagerness to learn and grow as an advocate for disabled children;
  • Experience working with low-income and special needs communities;
  • Admission to New York State Bar preferred;
  • At least 1 year prior experience.

 

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: 

Temporary; this position will end on January 13, 2023. 

Contract

Hybrid remote/in person

 

Professional Level: 

☒ Professional

 

Salary Range:  $73,046 - $77,294 (Salary is commensurate with experience)

 

 
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