Director of Legal Services

The Organization

Project Guardianship (PG) provides guardianship services for older adults and people with disabilities in New York who have been determined by a judicial proceeding to need help making decisions and have no family or friends able to assist them. PG's team approach employs attorneys, case managers, and finance associates to provide clients with services that allow them to be as independent and in the least restrictive setting as possible. Since 2005, PG has served hundreds of New Yorkers and has become a leading voice in a national, interdisciplinary effort to re-envision and strengthen guardianship policy.

The Role

The Director of Legal Services will maintain a caseload, provide leadership and support to 3 staff attorneys, and manage the operations of the legal services department. The Director of Legal Services will report to and work closely with the Chief Program Officer to ensure legal compliance for multidisciplinary teams serving up to 200 clients. The Director of Legal Services must have experience balancing a wide range of legal work, which may include public benefits, social security, Medicaid planning, landlord/tenant law, foreclosures, real estate transactions, estate planning, medical decision-making, and elder abuse.

Major Responsibilities:

• Supervise staff attorneys and oversee case assignments;
• Plan for new case onboarding;
• Draft motions and other court papers;
• Appear in court and administrative tribunals for conferences, hearings, and other proceedings;
• Represent guardianship clients and/or the agency in guardianship and collateral proceedings;
• Identify clients’ legal issues as they arise and address them accordingly;
• Consult with and counsel case managers and other staff regularly to address issues facing clients;
• Prepare affirmations detailing services provided to clients;
• Prepare court-mandated and funder-mandated reports;
• Represent PG at relevant conferences and meetings to improve guardianship practices; and
• Assist with special projects as required.

Qualifications:

• J.D. with New York State Bar admission and 7 years’ experience;
• Supervisory experience;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Strong interest in social justice for underserved populations;
• Experience working with guardianship, older adults, and/or people with disabilities or mental illness desirable;
• Litigation experience preferred;
• Ability to work with a diverse population;
• Creativity, flexibility, and patience;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Ability to work in a team environment;
• Must be willing to travel city-wide for appearances and hearings; and
• Final candidates will be subject to criminal background check.

Compensation

Starting salary $110,000 - $130,000, commensurate with experience.

Full benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement plan with employer match, long- and short-term disability, life insurance, and generous paid time-off policy.

To apply, submit your resume,and a cover letter.

Project Guardianship explicitly requests that applicants not use AI tools to write their cover letters.

Project Guardianship is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Project Guardianship works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

Full benefits include health, dental, vision, retirement plan with employer match, long- and short-term disability, life insurance, and generous paid time-off policy.

English is required, Spanish is preferred, all other languages a plus.