Staff Attorney

About NYLAG:

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 300 impacted the lives of nearly 90,000 people last year.

Job description

LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), has an immediate opening for a staff attorney with a minimum of 3 years experience in home care eligibility, advocacy and fair hearings. LegalHealth partners with medical professionals in 34 hospitals in New York City to address the non-medical needs of low-income people with serious health problems. LegalHealth complements health care with legal care – providing free legal services in medical facilities and training healthcare professionals to understand the legal issues their patients may encounter. LegalHealth is the largest medical-legal partnership (MLP) in the country and often plays a leadership role in the expanding MLP movement.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for staffing two weekly legal clinics at hospital partner sites
• Provides legal services in a wide range of issues including: home care, benefits, housing, employment, immigration, and advance planning
• Responsible for some training of medical staff to foster better communication and stronger relationships.
• Position requires an in-person legal clinic at a hospital 2 days per week and fulfilling the hospital clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice law in New York
• At least three years of prior and relevant experience, preferably working in healthcare or with vulnerable populations
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong research and writing skills
• Ability to both empathize with clients’ challenges and help to problem-solve is critically important
• Expertise in home care and representing clients at Fair Hearings
• Spanish-speaking candidates a plus

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type:

☒ Full-time

Professional Level:

☒ Professional

Salary Range:

NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $75,420-$87,354 (increasing to $77,117 - $89,320 effective July 1, 2023).

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.