Director, Civil Practice

The Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) seeks an attorney to lead our civil legal services, both overseeing and taking on housing and benefits cases and building out the legal services team in New York.

VAP ensures access to health care, housing, and benefits for low-income veterans and their families, with a focus on those living with post-traumatic stress, brain injury, substance dependency, and other mental health conditions. We are partnered with VA hospitals, health clinics, and local veterans’ groups to reach veterans where they are. While our attorneys tackle the legal challenges, our advocates ensure that our clients are connected to appropriate social services. With a dedicated team, VAP enables veterans to regain their health and rebuild their lives.

Our civil legal services are centered around homelessness prevention partnerships with two social services agencies. VAP also has partnerships with community clinics, Vet Centers, veteran treatment courts, and others. These collaborations are instrumental in assisting clients as holistically as possible to address the root cause of their legal issue. Our services provide access to health care and benefits, reduce contact with the justice system, keep veterans and their families in their homes, and empower veterans by removing barriers to success.

The director will coordinate staff advocacy, ensuring that civil legal services are integrated with the other practice areas of the organization. Management responsibilities include maintaining and growing partnerships, setting case priorities, supervising a small team (currently an intake advocate and two attorneys), actively shaping and advancing policy goals in line with the mission, identifying opportunities to create initiatives in response to community needs, participating in veterans events in communities across New York, testifying on behalf of the organization at various hearings, ensuring training for staff, participating in monthly meetings with Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) partners, and carrying a modified caseload that includes full representation. (We do not have any right-to-counsel/housing contracts with NYC.) Candidates should have experience in housing court as well as general knowledge in the areas of consumer finance, child support, and government benefits. Knowledge of veterans benefits is a plus; a willingness to learn about VA systems is a must.

Individuals with military service, prior experience working with veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a small team representing veterans in civil legal matters; ensure staff training, day-to-day operations and workflow;
• Represent a reduced caseload of clients in housing court and administrative hearings;
• Conduct intake and/or trainings, and participate in special events at partner organizations’ sites; provide telephone and/or written advice to clients as needed;
• Research legal issues, with a focus on housing law and public benefits;
• Work with the team on case strategies and integration of services to meet clients’ needs;
• Identify and assist with funding opportunities to build out service capacity;
• Identify areas for systemic advocacy; develop policy goals in line with the needs of the communities VAP serves;
• Identify opportunities to develop new initiatives, including with pro bono attorneys;
• Track client information in our database and prepare reports for grants/funding sources;
• Perform administrative tasks related to the work.

Qualifications

• JD and current membership in good standing of the New York State Bar;
• Minimum 5 years of experience;
• Positive track record leading a team;
• Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative, make decisions, and follow through on ideas;
• Efficacy in organizing and prioritizing;
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal research; excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Efficient and meticulous attention to detail and deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services and working with people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury;
• Dedication to serving all clients, without regard to discharge status or justice-involvement.

COMPENSATION: Salary is commensurate with experience, with a range of $100,000 to $130,000; generous benefits package including health insurance with no employee contribution to premiums, dental/vision plans, 401K, life insurance, EAP, and discounts, etc.

LOCATION: VAP has a small office in downtown Manhattan but the team mostly works remotely. While the person in this role can work from home, this position does require being in court and regularly attending events across New York City.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume, and recent legal writing sample to hiring@veteranadvocacy.org with “Civil Practice” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Veteran Advocacy Project, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, immigration status, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, military status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record, unemployment status, predisposing genetic characteristics, survivor of domestic/intimate partner violence status, or marital or partnership status.