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 were virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job Description:

NYLAG seeks a staff attorney to provide elder law legal services to Holocaust survivors as part of the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program (EFLRP) and the Public Benefits Unit (PBU). Of the 20,000 Holocaust survivors living in New York City, the median age is 87 years old and many live in poverty. Due to the lingering impact of their past trauma and their advanced age, many Holocaust survivors have higher needs for long term care, while also being uniquely vulnerable to re-traumatization and sharp declines in a nursing home setting. As a final act of justice, our team of attorneys and paralegals advocate for survivors to obtain the support they need to age with dignity and safety in their homes, including securing adequate Medicaid home care from trusted aides. As such, a significant portion of the attorney’s cases will focus on helping survivors and their caregivers navigate the Medicaid and Medicare landscape and representing clients in fair hearings and external appeals. The attorney will also assist with public benefits eligibility, medical bills and health insurance, advance directives and Wills, estate matters, Holocaust compensation, as well as other matters to comprehensively meet the legal needs of our survivor clients.

The Staff Attorney role requires extensive collaboration internally across projects and externally with community-based partners. The Staff Attorney reports to Supervising Attorneys in EFLRP and PBU.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This attorney’s primary responsibilities include:

• Providing direct legal services, including: counseling, drafting and supervising the execution of advance planning documents, assistance with access to public benefits and health care, elder abuse, guardianship, estate, and Holocaust compensation matters, as well as other legal issues related to older adults;
• Representing clients in both informal and formal advocacy, including administrative hearings and other agency appeals.
• Meeting with clients at community-based sites and making home, hospital and nursing home visits as needed;
• Administrative duties including updating NYLAG case management records, maintaining and updating files and case notes, and assisting in grant reporting as needed;
• Represent NYLAG at advocate meetings and community events;
• Work with and mentor pro bono attorneys, volunteers, and law students working with NYLAG;
• With experience, conduct trainings for community-based organizations, local agencies, and other advocates in the related substantive matters;
• With experience, conduct and develop educations trainings outreach with survivors and their caregivers and other legal practitioners;
• Attend internal staff meetings and meetings with partner agencies and funders as needed; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Admission to NYS Bar required; pending admission will be considered;
• A NYS notary license is necessary and must be applied for within one month of hiring;
• Excellent communication, research and writing skills are required;
• Strong organizational and administrative skills are required;
• At least one year of civil legal services experience in elder law or health law is preferred;
• Proficiency in Russian is preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently.

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:

• x​

Full-time

Professional Level:

​☐x​ Entry Level

​☐​x 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 $87,210 to $93,175. (Steps 1 – 4)

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.