Supervising Senior Attorney, Public Benefits
ALBANY, NY (HYBRID/REMOTE Considered)
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Practice Group: Public Benefits
I. Organization Information
Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Supervising Senior Attorney for our Public Benefits Practice Group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State.
Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced high levels of oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.
Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.
II. Position Summary
Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Supervising Senior Attorney position in our Public Benefits Practice Group. The Supervising Senior Attorney will work as part of a statewide team, participating in program development and required data reporting. This position will supervise the staff attorney, paralegal, and any law students assigned to projects, offer mentoring, and ensure professional development opportunities.
III. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Travel to and work in the Albany office is required to meet client and organizational needs.
o Hybrid. If the position is filled locally, it is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy.
o Remote. Empire Justice will consider remote applicants, provided they travel to the Albany office and make necessary appearances when required.
• Must demonstrate high comfort and commitment to working with disadvantaged and disabled clientele;
• Work as part of a statewide team, participating in program development and required data reporting;
• Supervise the staff attorney, paralegal, and any law students assigned to projects, offering mentoring and ensuring professional development opportunities;
• Develop and participate in complex litigation matters with other Public Benefits staff;
• Provide information, technical assistance, training, and support to legal advocates and community organizations on matters related to SNAP, public assistance, emergency assistance, SSP (the SSI state supplement program), and subsidized childcare benefits, and will be expected to have an in-depth substantive knowledge of these areas;
• Identify systemic issues that create barriers to low-income New Yorkers eligible for government benefits (cash assistance, SNAP, childcare, and the SSI State Supplement Program);
• Work with legal services programs across the state through engagement in list serves, trainings, and meetings;
• Monitor and respond to list serve postings, provide technical assistance to legal services staff, and participate as a trainer across the state as needed;
• Engage in appropriate impact litigation to enforce the law to protect and expand benefits access for low-income New Yorkers and undertake legislative and administrative advocacy relevant to their substantive legal areas of expertise;
• Provide leadership on policy issues relevant to the larger legal services community, which may require writing reports, coordinating with a team of writers regarding the law’s impact, and engaging with advocacy groups and government agencies regarding the report subject;
• Please note that all positions will supervise other practice group members if needed.
• Due to limited resources, all staff are expected to perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs.
IV. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited US law school or international equivalent
• Admission to practice in New York and good standing or admission pending;
o For remote candidates: out-of-state admission with eligibility for pro hac vice status (with the expectation of New York admission within two years).
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience;
• Experience in and commitment to working with diverse and impoverished clientele;
• Supervisory and problem management experience;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines;
• Excellent legal research and report writing skills;
• Effective decision-making skills and the ability to work under pressure and to shift priorities while working on multiple competing projects and deadlines;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Excellent litigation and advocacy skills;
• Ability to work on a team;
• Case Management;
• Leadership Skills;
V. Salary
The referenced pay range/scale represents this job's estimated minimum and maximum compensation. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range and determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, market data, and internal equity considerations.
Supervising Senior Attorney, 7-9 years of experience, $107,773-$112,843 (Upstate New York)
Supervising Senior Attorney, 7-9 years of experience, $113,773-$118,843 (Downstate New York)
VI. Benefits
We are an organization that supports and encourages a work/life balance. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package including:
• Health insurance (employer pays 100% premium for a high quality, co-pay plan).
• 403(b) eligibility with 1% employer match and additional employer contribution.
• 3% Non-Elective Annual Contribution made by Empire Justice Center.
o Benefit eligible after 12 months of employment.
• Generous vacation, sick, personal, and holiday time
o 14 Paid Holidays
o Vacation: 10.5 hours/month; Sick: 7 hours/month; Personal: 35 hours/year
• Bilingual salary enhancement for qualifying employees.
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
• Voluntary Supplemental Disability.
• Dental Insurance (employee paid).
• Vision Insurance (employee paid).
• $150K Group Term Life Insurance.
• Generous Bereavement Leave.
• 35-hour full-time work week.
• NYS Short-Term Disability.
• FSA Eligibility.
Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly desires a diverse and inclusive workforce. Empire Justice Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. It prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, specifically - race, color, religion, age (40 or older), sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, genetics, neurodiversity, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If interested, e-mail a resume, writing sample, and contact information for three professional references (one supervisor required) who are aware of this application to employment@empirejustice.org. Please include “Supervising Senior Attorney, Public Benefits, First/Last Name” in the email's subject line. No phone calls or hard copies, please. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contact Mercedece Love, Human Resources and Compliance Manager, at mlove@empirejustice.org. Empire Justice Center is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Empire Justice Center ensures that persons with disabilities and/or communication barriers have reasonable accommodations.
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