Managing Attorney

Position Description

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) seeks a dynamic leader to fill a Managing Attorney position in LawNY’s Olean office. Managing attorneys oversee the day-to-day functioning of the office, provide guidance to the supervision team and collaborate on developing future plans to expand and support the work being done within the service area. This position will be responsible for supervising both local projects supporting services in Cattaraugus County as well as regional projects that provide services across LawNY’s 14-county service area. 

Organization Information:

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to clients with low-income in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Geneseo and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester. 

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The starting salary for a Managing Attorney at LawNY with 5 years’ experience is $94,500 and the salary for a Managing Attorney with thirty years of experience is $123,100. Salary will be based on experience. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program(PSLF).

LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including:

• 94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in-network deductible 
• 100% Employer paid Dental Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Enhanced Short-term Disability
• 100% Employer paid Long-term Disability
• Vision Insurance
• 20 Paid Vacation days per year
• 12 Sick days per year
• 5 Personal days per year
• 13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year
• 35-Hour Work Week
• Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week. After 6 months, this can increase to 5 days per week with Manager approval, as workload permits) Residency in Cattaraugus County is not required. The successful candidate will be required to be in person for professional obligations and to meet the needs of the office. They also must be able to commute to the office.

Qualifications: These are the basic requirements for the position.

• Minimum of five years of legal experience as an attorney, with a preference for experience within civil legal services.
• Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State, eligible for admission without examination, or able to be admitted pro hac vice.
• Experience supervising others and managing projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and undertake initiatives.
• Demonstrated support for advancing policies and/or practices that improve access to opportunities, and foster a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace.
• Demonstrated leadership addressing critical issues impacting people with low-income. 

Responsibilities: These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the positions.

• Oversees the day to day operations of the office, including intake, advocacy, outreach, administration, and staffing.
• Manages and supervises staff and ensures compliance with program, grant and personnel policies. 
• Responsible for the development, preparation, and submission of grant applications and reports.
• Directs and maintains active involvement in the advocacy efforts of the office.
• Establishes and implements office procedures for staffing assignments, supervision, intake, and case distribution.
• Ensures adequate quality control of casework through the development and implementation of training opportunities and supervision protocols.
• Maintains and develops relationships and/or collaborative efforts with current funders, community leaders, not-for-profit agencies, grass roots organizations, other public interest offices, and governmental and elected officials.
• Actively participates in the LawNY management team, meetings of the Board of Directors, and regular LawNY committee meetings.
• Practices inclusive leadership, by creating open communication and feedback channels, actively removing barriers to staff success,  and modeling behaviors that foster a positive, respectful, engaged, and supportive team culture.

Additional Traits and Skills: These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to candidates’ ability to succeed in the positions. While no candidates will possess all of the requirements listed, the ideal candidates will have many of the following qualifications. LawNY encourages each candidate to think about their own personal knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as professional skills and experience, in relation to the list of qualifications.

• Demonstrated ability to build trust and respect with staff members, community groups and the legal community.
• Experience working with individuals and communities facing barriers to accessing resources, opportunities, services or justice.
• Applies understanding of bias and systemic inequities related to socio-economic status, race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetic information, national origin, familial status, and language, to improve client access, engagement and outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to trauma-informed and culturally responsive services.
• Models respect, cultural humility, and collaborative teamwork, to foster an environment of trust, support, and engagement for colleagues and clients from varied backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.   
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Act as a liaison between LawNY leadership and staff, facilitating clear communication and representing staff perspectives.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three professional references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform found here: https://lawny.bamboohr.com/careers/322. When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such. The application for this position is open until filled. 

To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to supporting our diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your background and experience has prepared you to contribute to our mission, vision and values at LawNY®.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations to support you in your role - whether for your interview, onboarding, or your day-to-day work, please let us know by sending an email to:[email protected].  Any information shared will remain confidential and only be used to ensure the appropriate support is in place before your first day. As part of your employment, LawNY will provide the necessary hardware to support your role.

Questions? Contact Michelle Grillone at [email protected]

LawNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. If you meet the basic qualifications of the role, we encourage you to apply! 

This position is considered Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.