Attorney (Equal Justice Works Fellow)

Job classification: Full-time, exempt

Reports to: Consumer Law & Estate Planning Staff Attorneys

Post date: June 24, 2026

Start date: September 2026

Length: Twenty-Four Months (2 years)

Salary range: $90,728 to $102,228 based on 0-5 years of experience

Position Description:

JustCause seeks diverse and dynamic applicants for a full-time attorney position at JustCause as an Equal

Justice Works Fellow in the Financial Empowerment Project. This fellowship will begin in September

2026, and continue for a period of 2 years. Successful fellows may be offered continued full-time

employment as a JustCause Staff Attorney at the conclusion of their fellowship.

Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interests law. The Equal

Justice Works Financial Empowerment Project is a pilot initiative that embeds attorney Fellows with

Financial Empowerment Centers in cities across the United States to protect and transfer generational

wealth through both financial and legal guidance. An Equal Justice Works Fellowship is an opportunity to

transform your passion for equal justice into a career. As an EJW fellow at JustCause , you will help close

the racial wealth gap in the City of Rochester by providing free legal services that focus on estate

planning, title clearing, and other asset preservation legal needs.

Organization Overview:

JustCause was first established in 1981 under the name “Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe

County, Inc. (VLSP)” to provide pro bono legal assistance to people who cannot afford an attorney when

facing serious civil legal problems. Since its inception, the mission of the organization has been to

improve the quality of life of individuals living in low-income households in Monroe County by providing

pro bono attorneys to assist with serious civil matters affecting the essentials of life. JustCause is co-

located at the Telesca Center for Justice in downtown Rochester, along with partner agencies, the Legal

Aid Society of Rochester, Legal Assistance of Western New York, and Empire Justice Center. While the

three other legal services organizations provide direct services to clients (utilizing primarily their own

staff), JustCause’s programs leverage a pro bono panel of more than 1,300 volunteers to provide pro

bono legal services to those who need it most in our community

JustCause services benefit over 20,000 people a year with a wide range of legal issues impacting their

family’s health, safety, and well-being. JustCause legal program areas include Immigration, Family Law,

Housing, Wills, Bankruptcy, Consumer Law, and other civil (non-criminal) legal issues.

Attorney Responsibilities Include:

• Providing direct legal services to clients in the areas of estate planning and asset preservation,

including but not limited to resolving fines and fees, title clearing, and addressing heirs’ property

issues

• Developing and conduct training and outreach initiatives for Financial Empowerment Center

(FEC) clients, including workshops and clinics developed in partnerships with local FECs and

community-based organizations

• Participating in collaborative learning and professional development through active engagement

with the Equal Justice Works Financial Empowerment Project cohort. This includes contributing

to resource exchanges, attending mandatory webinars and conference calls, and participating in

training events such as the Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training

• Providing support, training and mentorship to pro bono attorney volunteers. Assist with

JustCause recruitment and recognition events, and participate in external CLE, bar, and other

educational programs to increase visibility of the program to target client and volunteer

audiences

Goal, Objectives, and Primary Activities

The primary goal of the project is to reduce barriers to wealth-building and preservation for low-income

households by expanding access to critical civil legal services.

Key objectives include:

• Increase access to estate planning services for underserved populations
• Resolve title issues that prevent homeowners from securing and maintaining ownership
• Increase awareness of legal services available to FEC clients through community-based

education and outreach.

Primary activities will include:

• Conducting client intake and legal consultations
• Planning and conducting community-based legal clinics
• Tracking referrals, outcomes and other data points in case management system
• Delivering community legal education workshops focused on financial empowerment and asset

protection

• Developing and delivering tailored outreach efforts to community members and service

providers to raise awareness of legal options available for legacy and asset preservation

planning

• Engaging in regular coordination and resource-sharing with FEC financial counselors and other

key stakeholders

• Attending Equal Justice Works trainings and conferences

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction

(at the time of hire is preferred; or having taken the bar exam and waiting results)

• Previous direct legal services experience, including law school clinics, and/or internships
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, with a desire to increase access to justice for

individuals and communities experience house instability

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain an effective relationship with the courts,

the private bar, bar associations, and community organizations

• Ability to work independently and be self-directed
• A general understanding of basic legal principles; and preferably, experience in estate planning
• Ability to effectively, compassionately, and confidently interview clients from diverse

backgrounds who may be in crisis or have endured various forms of trauma

• Writing skills sufficient to draft clear and thorough legal memos and correspondence
• Meticulous attention to detail necessary to document client interactions and maintain up-to-

date files in the case management system

• Consistent, timely, and accurate record-keeping and reporting of all work time
• Ability to work cooperatively with fellow staff, supervisors, interns, and pro bono volunteers
• A strong commitment to justice, equity, and community wellness. Demonstrated interest in

serving diverse or low-income populations

• Database and records/case management skills and ability to maintain confidentiality of records

and information

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to working in a client-focused and collegial

environment

• Commitment to continuous process improvement and comfort with change

Fellowship Benefits

Equal Justice Works Fellows are part of a network of over 2,500 current and former Fellows dedicated to

improving access to equal justice for all. As a member of the network, each Fellow has access to:

• Equal Justice Works’ annual Leadership Development Training
• Responsive training and technical assistance
• Regular substantive and skills-based webinars throughout the Fellowship
• Monthly networking and collaboration sessions with other Fellows

JustCause Benefits

Excellent benefits including, but not limited to

• Generous paid holidays, vacation, and leave time
• Choice of high deductible or copay health insurance plan; JustCause pays 100% of the

employee’s premium

• JustCause contribution of 3% of salary to 403(b) retirement plan, plus an additional match of the

employee’s contribution up to 3%

• Parking reimbursement
• Short- and long-term disability insurance and New York Paid Family Leave
• Ability to work from home, depending on organizational needs

JustCause maintains a collaborative, collegial, flexible, and hybrid workspace and environment, allowing

employees to work from the office or remotely depending on organizational needs, and as needed to

attend in-person meetings and events. JustCause takes all actions needed to ensure the safety of staff

and clients.

JustCause does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual

orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, age or marital status and is an equal

access/equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume explaining interest and qualifications to

jobs@justcauseny.org. Please include the job title “Attorney Fellow” in the subject line.

Excellent benefits including, but not limited to

• Generous paid holidays, vacation, and leave time
• Choice of high deductible or copay health insurance plan; JustCause pays 100% of the

employee’s premium

• JustCause contribution of 3% of salary to 403(b) retirement plan, plus an additional match of the

employee’s contribution up to 3%

• Parking reimbursement
• Short- and long-term disability insurance and New York Paid Family Leave
• Ability to work from home, depending on organizational needs

JustCause maintains a collaborative, collegial, flexible, and hybrid workspace and environment, allowing

employees to work from the office or remotely depending on organizational needs, and as needed to

attend in-person meetings and events. JustCause takes all actions needed to ensure the safety of staff

and clients.

JustCause does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual

orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, age or marital status and is an equal

access/equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.