Civil Rights Attorney
Staff Attorney, Senior Attorney, or Supervising Senior Attorney
ROCHESTER – TELESCA CENTER
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Practice Group: Civil Rights
I. Organization Information
Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks an Attorney for our Civil Rights Practice Group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State.
Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced high levels of oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.
Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.
II. Position Summary
Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Staff Attorney, Senior Attorney, or Supervising Senior Attorney for our Civil Rights Practice Group. The attorney will be responsible for supporting attorneys in the Civil Rights Practice Group in handling individual cases and systemic change litigation, with the opportunity to carry an independent caseload, depending on experience. Current practice group focus areas include language justice, police reform, LGBTQ+ rights, school discrimination, and special education.
This position will be filled as either a Staff Attorney, Senior Attorney, or Supervising Senior Attorney, based on the organizational needs and the candidate's experience level at the time of hire. A Supervising Senior Attorney would be responsible for the above responsibilities and supervise a practice group member.
III. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Travel to and work in the Rochester Telesca Center office is required to meet client and organizational needs.
o This position is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy.
• Must demonstrate high comfort and commitment to working with disadvantaged and disabled clientele.
• Demonstrates understanding of the importance of DEIA within the Practice Group, at Empire Justice Center, and in client work.
• Participate in face-to-face and/or telephonic conversations with clients, the general public, advocates/staff from other agencies, and other employees;
• Take calls, conduct intakes, and provide advice and counsel to clients;
• Evaluate new cases for acceptance by the practice group;
• Manage cases and case files;
• Pre-litigation case work-up, including investigation and settlement negotiations;
• Conducts legal research and drafting memoranda, pleadings, briefs and/or discovery;
• Document review;
• Represent clients before state and federal administrative agencies or state and federal courts at all stages of litigation, from investigation through trial, settlement, and appeals;
• Advocacy through local and state-level policy initiatives;
• Deliver accurate and quality work product;
• Work collaboratively as part of a litigation team and practice group;
• Develop and conduct trainings and legal clinics as appropriate;
• Provide support and oversight or supervision to the work of other attorneys, interns, law students, paralegals, and support staff;
• Collaborate with other Empire Justice Center Practice Groups and other legal services providers, community organizations, and government agencies and officials supporting the low-income and marginalized communities we serve;
• Provide technical assistance to other Empire Justice Center Practice Groups and outside organizations;
• Effective use of and keeping up to date with technology, including cybersecurity and time entry;
• Please note that all positions will supervise other practice group members if needed.
• Due to limited resources, all staff are expected to perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs.
IV. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited US law school or international equivalent
o Admission to practice in New York and good standing or admission pending;
• For a Staff Attorney, at least 1 year of professional experience;
• For a Senior Attorney or Supervising Senior Attorney, at least 7 years of professional experience;
• Experience supervising legal staff if the position is filled with a Supervising Senior Attorney;
• Experience in and commitment to working with diverse and impoverished clientele;
• Effective decision-making skills and the ability to work under pressure and to shift priorities while working on multiple competing projects and deadlines.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills;
• Excellent organization and ability to meet deadlines;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Unafraid to learn and practice new and changing areas of law;
V. Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in civil rights law.
• Bilingual (English & Spanish or English & ASL) Preferred.
• Experience in outreach, community education, organizing, or coalition-building.
• Experience representing clients in state or federal court and/or administrative agency proceedings.
VI. Salary
The referenced pay range/scale represents this job's estimated minimum and maximum compensation. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range and determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, market data, and internal equity considerations.
Staff Attorney and Senior Attorney Salary Step Scale
The salary for a Staff Attorney in this position, with 1 year of experience, is $54,580, and the salary for a Staff Attorney with 10 years of experience, is $72,580.
The salary for a Senior Attorney in this position, with 7 years of experience, is $68,080, and the salary for a Senior Attorney, with 21 years of experience, is $96,080.
Supervising Attorney Salary Pay Range
Supervising Senior Attorney, 7-9 years of experience, $107,773-$112,843 (Upstate New York)
VI. Benefits
We are an organization that supports and encourages a work/life balance. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package including:
• Health insurance (employer pays 100% premium for a high quality, co-pay plan).
• 403(b) eligibility with 1% employer match and additional employer contribution.
• 3% Non-Elective Annual Contribution made by Empire Justice Center.
o Benefit eligible after 12 months of employment.
• Generous vacation, sick, personal, and holiday time
o 14 Paid Holidays
o Vacation: 10.5 hours/month; Sick: 7 hours/month; Personal: 35 hours/year
• Bilingual salary enhancement for qualifying employees.
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
• Voluntary Supplemental Disability.
• Dental Insurance (employee paid).
• Vision Insurance (employee paid).
• $150K Group Term Life Insurance.
• Generous Bereavement Leave.
• 35-hour full-time work week.
• NYS Short-Term Disability.
• FSA Eligibility.
Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly desires a diverse and inclusive workforce. Empire Justice Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. It prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, specifically - race, color, religion, age (40 or older), sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, genetics, neurodiversity, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If interested, e-mail a resume, writing sample, and contact information for three professional references (one supervisor required) who are aware of this application to employment@empirejustice.org. Please include “Civil Rights Attorney, First/Last Name” in the email's subject line. No phone calls or hard copies, please. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contact Mercedece Love, Human Resources and Compliance Manager, at mlove@empirejustice.org. Empire Justice Center is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Empire Justice Center ensures that persons with disabilities and/or communication barriers have reasonable accommodations.
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