Career Center

Staff Attorney (Family Law) - The Legal Aid Socciety - Rochester (Posted 7/16/19)

The Attorney will provide direct legal representation to victims of domestic violence who are facing homelessness or whose housing situation is compromised. Comprehensive broad based civil legal services will be provided in matters such as family law, housing, consumer law, and other areas to stabilize their living situation and increase safety. This program is a collaboration with the YWCA and Willow Domestic Violence Center.  

Qualification:

• Juris Doctor & admission to the New York State Bar.
• High level of initiative, self-motivation, and organization.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Strong negotiating ability.
• Ability to articulate thoughts and ideas efficiently and accurately.
• Respectful and empathetic consideration for clients.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and community partners.
• Access to reliable transportation.

Please send the following information to be considered:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Professional References
• Writing Sample (send to jaldrich@lasroc.org)
• Unofficial Transcripts (if admitted under two years) (send to jaldrich@lasroc.org)

Send the following information to: 

https://lasroc.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=46.

Human Resources, The Legal Aid Society of Rochester, NY, 1 West Main Street, Suite 800 Rochester, N.Y., 14614.

LASROC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

IT Support Specialist - Empire Justice Center - Rochester (Posted 7/1/19)

Empire Justice Center, a highly respected, statewide legal services organization, is seeking an Information Technology Support Specialist to join our team. This is an opportunity to join one of the most effective organizations serving low-income individuals and families in New York State.

• High aptitude for various network and systems hardware, troubleshooting hardware and software problems, and administering complex systems.
• 3 or more years of IT administration and support experience, including enterprise level support and daily administrative tasks such as server maintenance, server virtualization, and resolving complex operating system and application issues.
• Experience in identifying issues and troubleshooting hardware and software problems on various computer and network platforms.
• A solid understanding of NTFS rights related to file and directory structure, clear understanding of active directory and a solid understanding of Microsoft applications including Microsoft Office 365, Office 2010/2013, and cloud based computing.
• Ability to work effectively in fast paced environment within a mission-driven organization. Excellent customer service, interpersonal, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
• Able to work independently in a diverse workplace and with a dynamic environment.
• Experience using Case Management Systems and document management systems in a legal aid or law firm environment preferred.
• Current certifications in Microsoft Windows server and Exchange. Other certifications in Cisco, Citrix, VMware, Symantec, and SonicWall a plus.
• Ability to travel between offices as needed to support users in various geographic locations throughout New York State (currently Rochester, Albany, Westchester and Long Island).
• Physical requirements - must be able to lift 40 pounds.

Educational Requirements

Associates or Bachelor’s degree in information technology.

Salary and Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and based on the organization’s salary scale. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package, including health insurance, pension and life insurance, vacation, holiday and sick time. Empire Justice Center supports and encourages a work/life balance.

Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse work force. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender are welcomed and encouraged to apply.

Applications accepted until position is filled. To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to: employment@empirejustice.org. Please include, Information Technology Support Specialist, First/Last Name to the subject line of the email. No phone calls or hard copies please. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Information Technology Support Specialist Employment@empirejustice.org

Crime Victims Legal Assistancce Paralegal - Empire Justice Center - Yonkers (Posted 7/1/19)

Empire Justice Center, a highly respected, statewide legal services organization, is seeking a Crime Victims Paralegal to join our team. The Crime Victims Paralegal will be a critical member of a newly created Crime Victims Advocacy Project. The aim of this project is to provide civil (non-criminal) legal assistance in a range of substantive law matters to crime victims.

• Actively participating in the overall Crime Victims Project team and the work of the overall Practice Group as assigned and to otherwise be an active member of the organization
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated commitment to providing civil legal assistance to those in need
• A highly motivated individual interested in assisting victims of crime
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to organize, plan, prioritize, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
• Flexibility and experience working as a team
• Ability to respond to cultural differences among organizations, client population, and staff

​DESIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bi-lingual in Spanish strongly desired required
• Depending on location and focus (as noted above), working knowledge of immigration, consumer, employment and/or family law
• Strong client communication skills including learning to deal with “difficult” clients
• Be experienced in interviewing and counseling clients, preferably in both English and Spanish
• Be willing and able to travel to serve clients in a geographically wide-spread area
• To work well both independently and as a member of a team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary is commensurate with experience and based on the organization's salary scale. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefits package, including health insurance, pension and life insurance, vacation, holiday, personal and sick time. We are an organization that supports and encourages a work/life balance.

Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and desires a diverse work force. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, persons who are elderly, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender are welcomed and encouraged to apply.

TO APPLY:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If interested e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample and three professional references to: employment@empirejustice.org Please include, Crime Victims Paralegal Yonkers, First/Last Name to the subject line of the email. No phone calls or hard copies please. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Crime Victims Paralegal employment@empirejustice.org

Corporate Associate - Underberg & Kessler LLP - Rochester (Posted 6/28/19)

Underberg & Kessler LLP, a growing mid-sized law firm, is seeking an Associate to join its Corporate Practice Group in Rochester, NY.  Our ideal candidate has three to five years of experience handling corporate legal matters including mergers and acquisitions, financial/securities offerings, governance and compliance issues, and other business transactions. 

Qualified candidates must be admitted to practice in New York State, possess strong drafting, negotiation, and technical skills, and be motivated self-starters who take ownership of their projects.  We look to hire bright individuals who are team players with a strong work ethic, enthusiasm for providing excellent client service, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

The Firm offers a collaborative and collegial environment, a competitive salary, and benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental and vision plans, 401K, disability and life insurance, and paid vacation. To learn more about our Firm, please visit www.underbergkessler.com.  Please submit your cover letter, resume, and a copy of your law school transcript to Karen Marr, Operations Manager, at kmarr@underbergkessler.com.

Legal Assistant- LawNY- Rochester (Posted 6/28/19)

The Rochester office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) has (1) five-month AmeriCorps position available in our Access to Justice Project, a partnership between LawNY® and AmeriCorps, America’s most prominent volunteer service program.  LawNY® is a not-for-profit law firm which provides civil legal services to low-income clients in a fourteen-county region in western New York State.  The Rochester office serves Monroe County residents and provides representation primarily in the areas of housing, public benefits, re-entry, health, and elder law. LawNY® has six other offices located in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown and Olean, New York.

AmeriCorps members will work as legal assistants, and will be offered the opportunity for direct, substantive legal experience, excellent training and mentoring, and a chance to make a critical difference in the lives of poor people and their communities. They will team with dedicated professionals, including other AmeriCorps members, in an established poverty law program.

AmeriCorps Member Benefits:

• The $7154 living allowance for a five month position (equivalent to $715.42 semi-monthly) would be pro-rated dependent on the start date of this position;
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (currently set at $2255.24) upon successful completion of (5) months of service would be pro-rated dependent on the start date of this position;
• Deferment of qualified federal and some private student loans;
• Possibility of year long position renewal, funding permitting;
• Eligibility for assistance in obtaining basic health insurance;
• Child care benefit, if eligible;
• Intensive training and member support;
• Members typically qualify for SNAP and HEAP benefits;

Member Responsibilities:

• Provide screening and intake for poor persons seeking civil legal assistance;

• Assist staff attorneys in providing legal services to clients;
• Work with community agencies serving the poor to strengthen collaborations;
• Provide outreach and community education for targeted groups/clients;
• Assist in the recruitment and support of volunteer lawyers, students and community members;
• Participate on relevant staff committees/work groups;
• Participate in impact cases or projects.

Member Qualifications:

Applicants should have at least two years of college or equivalent experience. Prior experience working with the poor or disadvantaged is preferred.  Members should have a personal commitment to eliminating poverty and its effects in our communities and to high standards of professional performance.  Commitment to a five-month term with a minimum of (675) hours of service is required with a start date of 7/1/19.

Application Procedure:

All applications received will be considered until the positions are filled. Applicants should email a cover letter of interest, a resume, and the names of (3) references to the attention of Lori O’Brien, Managing Attorney of the Rochester office of LawNY®, at the following email address: lawnyapplications@lawny.org.  If selected, the position will start immediately or no later than 7/1/19 and run five months through 11/31/19.

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer.  LawNY® encourages applications from diverse candidates.  LawNY® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.  This position is considered non-exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Navigator - LawNY- Olean (Posted 6/19/19)

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) has an immediate opening for an Enrollment Specialist at its office located in Olean.  LawNY® staff work closely together to address the legal issues of low-income people in our community.

LawNY® seeks a dynamic mission-driven experienced professional staff person to provide health insurance enrollment assistance to individuals in Cattaraugus County through New York’s Health Benefit Exchange.

The Enrollment Specialist will play a critical role in implementing the key Health Benefit Exchange provision of the Affordable Care Act to ensure that all who need health insurance have access to high-quality affordable health care coverage. The Enrollment specialist will educate consumers about their health insurance options and assist them throughout all phases of the application process for the plan that best suits their needs.  The specialist will also conduct extensive outreach and education for consumers who are eligible for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.     

Program:  LawNY® is a not-for-profit law firm which provides civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14-county region in western New York State. The office provides legal advice and representation in the areas of housing, foreclosure defense, public benefits, family, employment and consumer law.  Program staff includes attorneys and paralegals who work across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing issues affecting our clients and communities. LawNY® focuses on meeting the legal needs of individual clients, as well as addressing systemic problems that create barriers for clients living in poverty.

Requirements:  The Enrollment Specialist must demonstrate maturity, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate with and educate consumers.  Above all, candidates for the position must have a strong dedication to the principle that everyone should have access to quality health care coverage no matter what their economic or social circumstances. Access to transportation and availability during some evenings and weekends is a requirement. Fluency in another language, such as Spanish, is a plus, but not a requirement.

Salary:  Salary is dependent on experience.  The entry level annual salary for a paralegal is $30,000 and increases to $35,000 for a paralegal with five years of experience. LawNY® provides an excellent benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, generous leave provisions, retirement plan, paid parental leave, disability coverage, a flexible and accommodating work schedule, and numerous opportunities for professional development and other benefits.

Applications:  Please forward a resume, cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, and three references to the attention of Jeffrey Reed, Esq. Managing Attorney, by July 8, 2019 to ensure full consideration.  Applications should be sent by email to lawnyapplications@lawny.org.

*Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer.  LawNY® encourages applications from diverse candidates.  LawNY® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.  This position is considered non-exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Victim's Rights Paralegal - LawNY - Olean (Posted 6/19/19)

The Olean office of Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.^® (LawNY^®) has an opening for a  full time Paralegal who will work as part of a project to provide civil legal services to victims of crime, including survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.  The Paralegal will work under the supervision of project staff attorneys providing civil legal help for victims on a range of issues, including orders of protection, custody, support, housing, public benefits, employment, health, education and consumer law, as well as victims’ rights enforcement.  Duties will include maintaining contact with clients, assisting in gathering documentation and evidence, conducting legal research, drafting correspondence and pleadings, attending meetings and court appearances, and assisting with grant reporting.  The project will involve close coordination with the local domestic violence and sexual assault services agencies, as well as with the New York Crime Victims Legal Network and is funded by a grant from the New York State Office of Victim Services. 

Program:  Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.^® is a not-for-profit law firm which provides civil legal services to low-income clients in a fourteen county area of western New York including the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier region. Our staff work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing law-related issues affecting our clients and communities. The Olean office serves the residents of Cattaraugus County and will also serve Alleghany County under this project.

Requirements: A college degree and/or a combination of education and relevant work experience is required.  Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to working with victims of crime, excellent oral and written communication skills, and superior organizational skills.

Salary: Salary is dependent on experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The entry level salary for a Paralegal is $30,000 increasing to $35,000 for a paralegal with five years’ experience. LawNY^® has an excellent health and benefit package as well as generous leave provisions.  This position is considered non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Procedure:  Applicants should submit the following: (1) a cover letter describing their interest and qualifications, (2) resume, and (3) three references to the attention of Mr. Jeffrey Reed, Managing Attorney, via email to: lawnyapplications@lawny.org by July 12, 2019.

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.® (LawNY^®) is an equal opportunity employer. LawNY® encourages applications from diverse candidates. LawNY^® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.          

Staff Attorney - Empire Justice - Rochester (Posted 6/17/19)

• Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low-income and other vulnerable populations.
• A J.D. and 2-5 years relevant legal experience.
• Admission to the New York State Bar or passed the NY bar and awaiting admission; or out of state admission with eligibility for pro hac vice status (with expectation of New York admission within two years).

• Excellent written and verbal communication, legal research and analytical skills, excellent organization and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work successfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds and treat clients with consideration and respect.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

A highly qualified and desirable candidate would also have the following:

• Experience working with low-income families and communities.
• Experience representing clients in state or federal court and/or administrative agency proceedings.
• Experience in outreach, community education, organizing, or coalition-building.
• Working knowledge of one or more of the practice group’s substantive areas of practice (civil rights, education and/or employment law).
• Bilingual (English & Spanish or English & ASL)

Salary and Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and based on the organization’s salary scale. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package, including health insurance, life insurance, vacation, holiday and sick time. We are an organization that supports and encourages a work/life balance.

Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer and desires a diverse and inclusive work force. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender are welcomed and encouraged to apply.

This position is available immediately. Applications will be accepted through 7/22/19 or until position is filled. To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, writing sample and three professional references to: (no phone calls or hard copy mail please)

employment@empirejustice.org