Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) is seeking a dedicated lawyer to lead an emerging group of staff and attorneys in our Medical-Legal Partnership (“MLP”) Program, a cutting-edge model of legal service delivery spanning all of NLS’ substantive practice areas through a lens of individual and public health.
NLS, a trauma-informed workplace, has partnered with multiple local community healthcare providers to deliver wraparound civil legal services to underserved communities. Our MLP work aims to improve health outcomes for low-income members of our community by providing legal solutions to health-harming legal needs with a specific focus on the social-determinants of health. NLS receives direct referral sources from our medical provider partners to assist clients who are people living with low incomes, disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people experiencing homelessness.
The Program Director of the Medical Legal Partnership Program will be responsible for monitoring all aspects of direct civil legal services provided to clients of NLS through the MLP Program. The Program Director will develop, implement, and monitor on an ongoing basis the necessary activities to assist staff attorneys, paralegals, support staff, interns, and volunteers in the operation of the Medical Legal Partnership Program. The Program Director will collaborate with NLS’ medical provider partners to develop and maintain a referral network; to develop and coordinate community outreach, education, and training for and with our medical provider partners. The Program Director will work with the NLS Advocacy Director to identify systemic legal issues and develop and implement impact litigation strategies. In addition to overseeing attorneys and staff, the Program Director will represent clients and maintain a caseload. The Program Director will also ensure that staff comply with funding and grant requirements.
Essential Functions:
- Reporting to the Advocacy Director, the Program Director will manage the day-to-day operation of the Medical Legal Partnership Program. A successful applicant will be located primarily in the Buffalo Main Street Office, but will manage, and consult with attorneys across the organization.
The Program Directory must have a broad level of general practice experience, including assisting clients in New York State Courts (City, County, and Supreme Court); U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York; administrative hearings before the Social Security Administration and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Preferred areas of experience and expertise include housing (eviction prevention), family, Social Security Disability Benefits (SSD and SSI), Public Benefits, advance directives (wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney), and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.
The ability to inform proper trial and hearing preparation, technique, and strategy in these matters is critical.
- A key requirement of a successful applicant will be the ability to foster growth in junior staff attorneys, encouraging them to work independently, creatively, and collaboratively. The Program Director will mentor, support, and provide legal, ethical, practical, and strategic advice to attorneys and staff at all levels, convene weekly case review meetings with unit staff to address individual case-specific issues, and one-on-one meetings, as necessary.
- Review of referrals received from medical provider partners for eligibility determinations in accordance with grant and funding requirements, and case assignment.
- Establish and maintain NLS’ onsite presence with one of our medical provider partners, coordinate with our provider partners to ensure effective referrals and holistic service delivery and, identify systemic problems that affect our clients.
- Conduct community outreach, education, and training for and with our medical provider partners.
- Collaborate with a wide-range of public and private community partners, including governmental agencies, courts, and community-based organizations, to ensure integrative services and address systemic barriers facing our client community.
- Work collaboratively with NLS partners to coordinate legal and other essential services and advocate for our clients and communities. Comfortable presenting to community and legal services groups, excellent interpersonal skills.
- Assist in grant proposal development, monitoring, and reporting including program evaluation and compliance efforts.
- A commitment to leading by example, high professional integrity, and maintaining civility in all interactions with staff, opponents, and community-at-large. Capable of addressing client and staff concerns in a sympathetic and confident manner.
- Maintain independent caseload as needed, depending upon complexity and difficulty of matters, especially when necessary to cover staff leave or PTO.
Required Qualifications:
- Law degree (JD) & active New York license;
- Applicant must have at least six (6) years of experience in a private practice or legal services setting, or the equivalent;
- Prior management experience in a legal setting preferred, but not required;
- Commitment to addressing systemic poverty, race, and justice issues, as well as to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion in a diverse workplace.
Compensation & Benefits:
Salary range is $90,000-$110,000; and is based on experience. Full-time position with a 35-hour work week and shorter summer hours. Excellent benefits including health, dental and vision insurance, 15 vacation days; 12 paid holidays plus paid week off between Christmas and New Year’s; sick and personal leave; eligibility for public student loan forgiveness; paid $50,000 life insurance, pension plan, HRA, and Flexible Spending Accounts, and paid professional legal memberships.
Organization Overview:
Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) is the largest provider of civil legal services in Western New York with a central office in Buffalo and offices in Batavia, Lockport, and Niagara Falls. NLS advocates for thousands of clients each year in many different legal subject areas. NLS staff represents clients who are facing eviction, families who have no money for food or rent, survivors and victims of domestic violence, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. We invite you to join our team and to use your talents and skills to help people and change systems. |