AmeriCorps VISTA: LawNY Attorney Emeritus Program Coordinator

Service Description: Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) partners with Fordham Law School's Feerick Center for Social Justice (FC) and shares resources to work with law students, alumni, and a broad range of partners on anti-poverty efforts. LawNY’s Rochester office hosts one VISTA Attorney Emeritus Program (AEP) Upstate Coordinator.

The VISTA will work with LawNY and other Upstate NYS civil legal services providers to connect senior volunteer attorneys to low-income New Yorkers in need of civil legal assistance in substantive areas such as government benefits, immigration, housing, family, health, consumer, education, and employment law. The VISTA will help to reduce poverty in rural and upstate counties by strengthening the AEP in those areas, and increasing services provided by civil legal services providers. The VISTA will also support LawNY’s regional pro bono team’s efforts to recruit senior pro bono attorneys, utilize volunteers, and expand volunteer opportunities. The VISTA will develop recruitment and training materials, connect with local stakeholders, present at bar association events, work on volunteer recognition, and conduct data collection and evaluation tracking of volunteers and host sites. This is a wonderful opportunity for a VISTA who is considering a career in the law, particularly in public interest. The VISTA will liaise extensively with legal service providers, bar associations, law firms, law schools, and individual private attorney volunteers.

The VISTA will work with both FC AEP VISTAs collaboratively to support the Program statewide. The VISTA will also help to continue to develop and implement the Racial Justice Model Practices Initiative (RJMPI), which promotes anti-racist and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in volunteer management and pro bono services. 

VISTAs serving at LawNY must live within commuting distance (1.5 hrs) of Rochester, NY before their service start date. This position employs a hybrid model with at least three days in the office at LawNY. This model is subject to change during your term of service as per LawNY’s requirements.

Member Duties: Develop and implement volunteer recruitment; engage in retention, coordination, and recognition strategies; draft communications materials; plan events; manage data collection and tracking mechanisms. Ideal candidates have strong data and volunteer management skills, can work collaboratively with diverse staff and volunteers, and possess strong organizational, writing, oral communication and technology skills.

The VISTA will have monthly check-ins with LawNY and FC senior staff, weekly program meetings with FC and LawNY senior staff, LawNY staff meetings, monthly professional development workshops, and mid-monthly presentations led by the VISTA Leader. This is a wonderful opportunity for someone considering a career in public interest law.

Program Benefits : Health Benefit* , Parking and Mileage Reimbursement , Housing Allowance (paid to landlord) , Living Allowance (provided by AmeriCorps) , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Relocation Allowance (if eligible) , Non-Competitive Eligibility status for federal jobs upon successful completion of service , Child Care assistance (if eligible) . Professional development and training provided .

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.