Employment/Current Job Postings at The Legal Project

Work with the best legal team in the Capital District! 

We are committed to ensuring access to justice to our most vulnerable neighbors, while valuing flexibility, teamwork, work life balance, and familiy values. 

We are currently interviewing attorneys for our domestic violence program. Interested applicants are encourged to send their resume, cover letter explaining why you want to make a difference, and a short writing sample to Carla Brogoch, Legal Director, at cbrogoch@legalproject.org. 

The Legal Project, Inc.

Staff Attorney – Domestic Violence / Crime Victims

POSITION DESCRIPTION

(Exempt)

Who we are

Did you go to law school to make a difference in people’s lives? The Legal Project might be a great fit for you. At The Legal Project, we believe that access to legal advice and representation can advance the safety, stability, and independence of the people that we serve and strengthen our communities. Since 1995, we have been advising, advocating for, and representing people who have traditionally had difficulty obtaining civil legal services. Whether you are helping a domestic violence survivor and their children to obtain an order of protection, preventing home forclosure for a couple whose catastrophic medical bills have decimated their finances, or obtaining a green card for a child who was abused, abandoned, or neglected by their parents, you are making a difference in someone’s life every day that you work at The Legal Project. As a member of our small and eclectic staff, you will benefit from a collegial and collaborative culture where everyone is dedicated to the work we do and always willing to troubleshoot case strategy with you, help with legal research, or talk about how much we are all looking forward to The She Hulk. 

Our programs include family court and divorce representation in domestic violence cases; crime victim assistance; immigration services; foreclosure prevention; elder law assistance; wills and end of life planning; bankruptcy; veteran’s legal clinics; small business legal assistance; and community legal clinics on general civil legal issues. The Legal Project also provides community education and professional training. 

What you will do

TITLE: Domestic Violence Staff Attorney/Crime Victims Assistance Staff Attorney 

REPORTS TO: Supervising Attorney, Victim Legal Assistance Program 

What does your typical day look like? If one of your assigned cases has a court appearance, you will be there, either in person or virtually. If there is no court, your day might consist of following up with clients or opposing counsel, drafting paperwork, or meeting with potential new clients for legal consultations. You may spend some time seeking guidance from one of our foreclosure defense attorneys on a potential foreclosure issue in one of your divorce cases. Or you may be collaborating with one of our immigration attorneys for a mutual client’s case. On some days there may be department meetings or staff meetings to attend or a training.. We offer a hybrid in person / remote work environment.

Position Summary: The DV/CV Staff Attorney provides services to clients of The Legal Project, Inc. in civil legal matters, mostly family law related. The DV/CV Staff Attorney provides legal representation to domestic violence and victims in family offense, custody, visitation, support, matrimonial, and other civil legal matters. The Staff Attorney represents victims in all stages of litigation. The Staff Attorney also conducts consultations with domestic violence victims and crime victims, giving general legal advice. The Staff Attorney will also conduct trainings and workshops for Legal Project staff and/or community partners, as instructed. 

Essential Duties: 

· Provide consultations (brief legal services) to victims of domestic violence seeking legal advice in addition to full representation, in matters including orders of protection, custody, support, matrimonial, and other relevant matters. Provide information to victims of domestic violence about the court system, and advise them about options available and potential consequences of their decisions.

· Conduct all aspects of civil practice, including discovery, motion practice, negotiations, trial preparations, and trials.

· Draft legal documents and attend court with victims of domestic violence.

· Prepare witnesses and clients for court appearances

· Maintain comprehensive and precise client case files and internal data logs

· Maintain monthly statistical reports documenting case representation, provision of legal advocacy, and referrals. Provide reports and statistical data to comply with grant reporting requirements. 

· Provide technical assistance to pro bono volunteers as needed. 

· Participate in team problem solving to ensure the smooth and effective functioning of the Victim Legal Assistance Program. Trouble-shoot and assist with creative problem solving relating to client and attorney issues. 

· Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with other in the legal community. Serve as agency point of contact as needed with community partners, attend related meetings, trainings, and conferences. Make referrals to community resources as appropriate.

· Perform legal research relative to federal, state, and local statutes, ordinances, and regulations

· Monitor trends in statutes, regulations, and related that may impact rights of victims of domestic violence. Provide input on same as needed. Maintain an updated knowledge of the field of law related to domestic violence victims. 

· Participate in agency activities such as training, conferences, and fundraisers

· Perform other necessary related or unrelated duties as may be assigned by supervisor. 

What kind of person you are

You are a person who believes that access to justice is imperative for communities to thrive. You enjoy working with other attorneys, paralegals, and support staff who believe that everyone deserves the right to legal counsel when faced with major life decisions. You have a creative mind and enjoy brainstorming with others who are all trying to maximize scarce resources to the benefit of our clients. You understand that trauma effects people in different ways, and some clients may take time to trust you.  If you speak another language or have a hidden secret skill, that is excellent. At a small not-for-profit like ours you never know what the day may bring. 

Qualifications:

1. Licensed and admitted to practice law in New York State and in good standing with the bar. 

2. Two years experience in family law, litigation, or related practice preferred. (Internship and/or law school clinical experience may substitute for some experience. ) Experience working with domestic violence survivors preferred.

3. Training and/or experience with trauma informed care preferred 

4. Excellent advocacy, research and writing skills and strong attention to detail 

5. Strong organizational and administrative skills 

6. Effective collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals in the provision of legal services; 

7. Ability to think strategically and creatively, solve problems, exercise initiative and manage multiple tasks/projects and sensitive information while also being able to determine when to ask for assistance 

8. Impeccable integrity, judgment and discretion 

9. Support mission and vision of The Legal Project. 

10. Proficiency or fluency in language in addition to English strongly preferred. 

Why do you want to work here?

The Capital District of New York provides a great quality of life. Our cost of living is relatively low, and our neighborhoods offer flexibility from urban to rural., Whether you enjoy sidewalk dining in a walkable down town area or hiking in the wilderness, both of these options are available within the same day. Winters offer ample outdoor winter sports and summers offer festivals, fairs, farmers markets, and a variety of outdoor recreational activities. The Center Square neighborhood in Albany was recently ranked by Forbes as the fourth best neighborhood for young professionals in the country. 

The Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status. We strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities. 

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt 

Salary range: $58,000-$63,000 based on experience. 

Benefits:  Include medical, dental/vision, 401K Plan. Generous PTO in addition to holidays off and flexible work environment. Our holidays include our entire office closing each year for the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s day, meaning that you are guaranteed that time off without it counting against your PTO. 

Additionally, as a not for profit, working for The Legal Project can qualify you for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF. Many of our employees have had their student loans forgiven after the necessary amount of service time. For more information, please visit www.studentaid.gov/public.service 

To Apply: Email resume, cover letter indicating your interest in the position, writing sample to Carla Brogoch, Legal Director at cbrogoch@legalprogect.org