What are the responsibilities and job description for the Education Law Project Staff Attorney position at Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY?
Ready to Make a Difference?
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking an experienced attorney to staff our Education Law Project. Our service area spans sixteen counties in Upstate New York across six regional offices. This position is based out of our Albany office. For more information about our work, our staff, and our clients, visit .
The Education Law Project : The Education Law Project (ELP) pursues justice and equity for public school students who are experiencing poverty. ELP is dedicated to enforcing every student's right to an appropriate education in an environment that is safe, equitable, accessible, and non-discriminatory. ELP seeks to empower parents and guardians with the knowledge to advocate for the educational rights of their children. ELP is part of LASNNY's strategy to operationalize its Race Equity Priority. The education law attorney is expected to approach their work and advocacy with a racial justice lens. The education law project staff attorney will provide direct legal services to protect the civil rights of students in primary and secondary education settings, conduct community legal education, and collaborate with families, educators, parent advocates, and community organizations to address systemic barriers in the education system.
Minimum Requirements :
- Must be licensed to practice in NYS or be eligible for admission.
- 1-7 years' prior legal experience or equivalent.
- Demonstrated commitment to providing high-quality legal services to low-income clients and in addressing systemic inequities in the education system.
- Ability to conduct effective community legal education including clinics and know-your-rights events.
- Must be able to identify and address systemic legal problems and work collaboratively with other LASNNY staff to ensure delivery of a full range of legal services to clients served by the Albany office.
- Occasional travel required to co-counsel and / or conduct litigation or other advocacy strategies in other counties of the service area to advance the training and systemic advocacy goals of LASNNY.
- Must be intelligent, hardworking, careful, reliable, have good judgment, and attention to detail.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with clients, staff, and educators and work independently and efficiently.
- Good computer skills.
- Must have a car and a valid driver's license.
Preferred Experience :
Staff Attorney Essential Duties and Responsibilities :
Work Environmen t
LASNNY is a professional law office and occasionally may require the carrying of items of up to 20 pounds. This role requires the use of standard office equipment and software and remote videoconferencing platforms. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
We are a unionized program with excellent benefits, generous time off, health insurance coverage with premiums primarily paid by LASNNY, health and long-term disability insurance, retirement contributions, tuition reimbursement, qualifying moving expenses, and flexible hybrid-remote and alternative work schedules.
At LASNNY we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. We strongly encourage applications from women, BIPOC, LGBTQI persons, protected veterans, applicants and recipients of public assistance, older adults, and people with disabilities.
If you cannot submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at LASNNY at . We will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.
Salary : $72,870 - $89,357
