Director of Legal Training and Curriculum

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center is looking for an attorney with substantial practice experience in New York State Family Court to serve as a Director of Legal Training and Curriculum to design and develop training curricula and supporting practice guides for the newly established Family Court Practice Institute. The Family Court Practice Institute is a public/private partnership funded by the NYS Unified Court System, dedicated to promoting high quality legal representation in New York State Family Court through training and support of attorneys who represent children, parents, agencies, and the related professionals who support holistic representation.    

Under the guidance and direction of the Director and Deputy Director of the Family Court Practice Institute, the Director of Legal Training and Curriculum will play a critical role in the design, growth and reach of the Family Court Practice Institute. Given the scope of work, the Center anticipates hiring two Directors of Legal Training and Curriculum who will work together, coordinating with staff, consultants and lived experience experts in the ongoing design and delivery of in-person and online trainings for family court lawyers and members of the lawyers’ representation team. The role requires substantive knowledge of relevant federal and NYS law, professional ethics, lawyering skills, public and social policy, and innovative trauma-informed practice in the family court arena, along with demonstrated leadership, management and strong interpersonal skills. To serve practitioners throughout New York State, the Practice Institute’s training curricula will be tailored, as warranted, to address the training needs of local jurisdictions. 

The Director of Legal Training and Curriculum will take a hands-on lead role in developing and implementing a foundational family court practice curriculum, as well as branched and specialized curricula to address identified training needs and gaps particular to specific roles, skills and subject matter. Familiarity with New York Family Court practice—across case types—will be key, as well as the ability to identify and/or work alongside subject matter and training experts. In addition to delivery of comprehensive training, the Practice Institute is working to build a robust and comprehensive website that includes an array of practice resources and tools, caselaw updates, and a Learning Management System (LMS) platform. The Director of Legal Training and Curriculum will coordinate with staff in creating practice guides and resource materials for publication on the website to enhance the work of Family Court Practitioners and will support other Practice Institute initiatives.    

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Developing training curricula for family court attorneys and other practitioners throughout New York State; 

• Developing resource materials, such as slide decks, tip sheets, checklists, toolkits, and practice guides; 

• Serving as faculty for CLE-approved trainings, as needed; 

• Ensuring compliance with NYS CLE Board requirements for training offerings;   

• Recruiting, consulting and coordinating with subject matter experts, trainers, external partners, and members of the Family Court Practice Institute team to create training and publish practitioner guides and resources;  

• Managing/supervising staff and overseeing logistics related to training events and activities; 

• Identifying family court practice needs and differences throughout New York State; 

• Coordinating with the Family Court Practice Institute’s Youth Council and lived experience group on curriculum design and content;  

• Responding to identified training gaps through the development of training and development of tailored practice supports; and;

• Other activities as needed.  

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be admitted to practice law in New York State (required) with substantial practice and training experience in New York family court (required), and possess a commitment to advancing justice for children and families through training and support of practitioners. The candidate must be an attorney in good standing in New York State and maintain this status for the purpose of serving as faculty for CLE-accredited training courses offered by the Family Court Practice Institute. Candidates must be skilled leaders and managers, able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting and maintain strong relationships with multiple partners across the Center, in the community, throughout the State, and nationally. Travel for training, collaboration with partners, and attendance at conferences will be required. 

Position Type: Full-time. Remote. 

Position Location: New York 

Compensation:  The compensation range for this position is $110,000 – $145,000 and is commensurate with experience.