Family Law Attorney – Albany Office

Family Law Attorney

 

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as a Family Law Attorney for the Albany office of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York. The Family Law Attorney provides legal assistance in matrimonial and family law matters for adults in such matters as custody, visitation, child and spousal support, paternity, orders of protection and divorce. The Family Law attorney provides advice and referrals to low-income clients, as well as full representation, and will work in collaboration with other LASNNY attorneys to address the full range of our clients’ legal needs.

 

Our mission is to fight for fairness, dignity, and justice for those living in poverty and for a society which is inclusive and equitable for all. We transform lives, build community, and empower people by using the law to address individual and systemic wrongs and inequities. We are committed to ensuring equitable treatment, services, and outcomes for people of color.

 

We are skilled, creative, and compassionate advocates, combining a passion to serve with the skills and will to address both individual and systemic injustice. We take pride in providing holistic services to our clients with a wide range of programs and substantive law expertise. We seek an attorney who will be dedicated to our mission and provide legal assistance in a broad range of family and matrimonial issues to promote safety and family and economic stability.

 

The office for this position is in Albany, New York, the state capital.  The counties served by this office are offer a lively, family friendly place to live with a reasonable cost of living, excellent quality of life, and easy access to major metropolitan areas as well as year-round outdoor opportunities.

 

Our office is a collegial and supportive workplace, encouraging and supporting staff development, mentoring and collaboration.

 

Responsibilities:

The attorney will be responsible for providing legal assistance in matrimonial and family law matters for adults in such matters as custody, visitation, child and spousal support, paternity, orders of protection and divorce. The attorney will provide advice and referrals to low-income clients, as well as full representation, and will be expected to provide legal assistance to clients who may ultimately be referred to court appointed counsel for ongoing legal assistance. Services will range from legal information to full legal representation and could include legal education workshops, ask a lawyer appointments, the development and distribution of legal information, self-help information and pro se clinics. The attorney will work with other LASNNY and Private Attorney Involvement staff to ensure that the full range of clients’ legal needs are addressed.

 

Qualifications: 3-7 years’ prior legal experience or equivalent.  Admitted to New York State Bar or awaiting bar results and eligible for admission thereafter. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to providing legal assistance in family and matrimonial matters. Prefer prior civil legal services experience. Must be expert or become expert in a family and matrimonial matters and the interplay of these issues with other areas of poverty law. 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. Must be able to listen, have very strong interview and counseling skills and be able to communicate information and options effectively.  Must be intelligent, patient, hardworking, careful, reliable, have good judgment, and attention to detail and work independently and efficiently. Good computer skills.  Must have a car and a valid driver’s license. Strong preference for lived experience, ability to speak Spanish and experience in successfully providing family and matrimonial legal assistance to low-income community members.

 

Salary:     Up to $73,297 DOE Excellent benefits.  We are a unionized program, and our fringe benefits are excellent.

 

Application Deadline:    April 25, 2022

 

No applications will be accepted without cover letter, resume, references and writing sample.

 

To apply, please:

 

 

 

LASNNY is committed to the creation of an inclusive and diverse workplace and providing Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action to all applicants. We strongly encourage applications from women, BIPOC, LGBTQ persons, protected veterans, applicants and recipients of public assistance, the elderly and people with disabilities.