ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester.
LawNY® has been providing high quality legal representation for 54 years, and today has over 180 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and a legal support team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing legal issues affecting our clients and community.
LawNY® is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We are increasingly committed to creating a law firm where race equity, diversity and cultural competency are integral components of our work, from client advocacy to internal operations.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
LawNY® seeks a dynamic leader to fill the immediate opening for Managing Attorney of the Rochester office. Managing attorneys oversee the day-to-day functioning of the office, including developing future plans and projects to expand and support the work being done within the service area. The office has a revenue side budget of $4.9 million with approximately 28 contracts with various federal, state, county, and city agencies, as well as the area United Way, foundations, and private donations.
With over 50 administrative, paralegal, attorney and AmeriCorps staff members, the Rochester office engages in programming that impacts the housing, income, health, and education of our community members. The Rochester office currently manages both local Monroe County projects and regional programs that serve LawNY’s fourteen county service area. The office is located in the Telesca Center for Justice building, and successful candidates are expected to work closely and collaboratively with other area civil legal services programs.
ABOUT ROCHESTER
The Rochester office serves Monroe County which is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario and serves as a gateway to the Finger Lakes region of Western New York. Rochester is an early industrial boomtown with progressive roots in the abolitionist and women’s rights movements, home to historic residents like Susan B. Anthony and Fredrick Douglass and business giants Kodak and Xerox.
Rochester culture is informed by a vibrant music scene, beautiful parks, and frequent arts festivals and a booming number of new restaurants, breweries, and public markets. The Erie Canal towpath and Genesee Riverway trails also offer miles of rich history and outdoor adventure. Notable nearby museums include the Strong National Museum of Play, Memorial Art Gallery, and the George Eastman Museum.
Rochester has an average cost of living and accessible transportation options including dedicated bike lanes, safe sidewalks, and public transit. The current housing market is moderately competitive with a median home sale price of $140,000 and 1 bedroom apartments available for around $1000/month.
QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.
- Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State.
- Minimum of five (5) or more years of legal experience as an attorney, with preference for experience within civil legal services.
- Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
- Experience supervising others and managing projects.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and undertake initiatives.
- Demonstrated commitment of service to low-income people.
- Demonstrated leadership in critical issues facing low-income people.
- Commitment to engaging in learning and developing supervision skills that support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.
- Provide general administration of the office, including the development, preparation, and submission of grant reporting.
- Manage and supervise staff and ensure compliance with program, grant, and personnel policies.
- Maintain active involvement in the advocacy efforts of the office.
- Establish and implement office procedures for staffing assignments, supervision, intake and case distribution.
- Ensure adequate quality control of casework through the development and implementation of training opportunities and supervision protocols.
- Formulate strategies for resource development, including the development, preparation, and submission of grant applications.
- Maintain and develop relationships and/or collaborative efforts with current funders, community leaders, not-for-profit agencies, grass roots organizations, other public interest offices and governmental and elected officials.
- Maintain adequate space, equipment, supplies and other resources for the office.
- Participate in the LawNY management team, meetings of the Board of Directors, and regular LawNY committee meetings.
- Maintain and develop relationships with current funders, community leaders, not-for-profit agencies, grass roots organizations, public interest offices, governmental and elected officials and local bar associations.
- Create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for supervisors and staff.
ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities. LawNY® encourages each candidate to think about their own personal knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as professional skills and experience in relation to this list.
- Demonstrated ability to command the trust and respect of staff members, community groups, and the legal community.
- Demonstrated skill in mentoring and training less-experienced attorneys, paralegals and/or other staff in their pursuit of career advancement.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services.
- Experience related to serving individuals from historically oppressed populations.
- Humility in working with colleagues and clients across the spectrum of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, immigrant status, religious identity, physical and mental disabilities and/or limited English proficiency.
- Experience incorporating an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into legal practice.
- An understanding of the concepts of structural and institutional racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
- True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
COMPENSATION
Salary is dependent on years of experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The beginning salary for a Managing Attorney with five years of experience is $77,500 and the salary for a Managing Attorney with ten years of experience is $84,400. LawNY® staff may also qualify for public interest law school loan forgiveness programs.
LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including 94% employer paid health insurance with significant HSA contributions, 100% employer paid dental and disability insurance, vision coverage, and $50,000 automatic life insurance as well as generous leave provisions including, in the first year of employment, 20 days of vacation plus 13.5 holidays and two floating holidays. Employees also receive 12 sick days and five personal days per year. New parents receive 20 days of paid new parent leave.
LawNY® is committed to providing a work-life balance to their employees. We encourage and support a 35 hour work week to ensure our employees have this balance. We also offer a remote work policy where new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week during their 6 month probationary period with manager approval, as their case load permits. This increases to 5 days per week once successfully finished with a probationary period with manager approval, as their case load permits.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform, found here and at www.lawny.org/Employment. When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such.
To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your lived and/or professional experience or background has prepared you to contribute to support a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at LawNY®.
Questions or Accommodations? Contact Taylor Howarth at thowarth@lawny.org
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer. LawNY® strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups whose background may contribute to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. 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 pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act. |