HOUSING JUSTICE STAFF ATTORNEY

Position: Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. will hire several staff attorneys for positions available in our offices in Syracuse, Utica, and Binghamton regions based on the needs of the local communities served. 

Responsibilities: Staff Attorneys engage in exciting and interesting comprehensive legal representation including advice, negotiation, litigation, and administrative advocacy. LSCNY staff attorneys represent clients in essentials-of-life matters. Attorneys collaborate in teams led by an experienced supervisor.

Housing stability cases, especially eviction defense, are a substantial portion of the staff attorney’s caseload. Our attorneys regularly appear in City, Town, and Village Courts across our service area in eviction cases. Attorneys are encouraged to work on advocacy and projects beyond individual casework. Attorneys are expected to conduct community outreach and work to build essential partnerships with local community organizations. Hybrid work is available subject the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.

Our Organization: Legal Services of Central New York (LSCNY) is committed to achieving justice for low-income people and those who have difficulty accessing the justice system. We are deeply committed to principles of anti-racism and race equity in all we do. For more than 58 years, we have sought to make a difference in clients’ lives and their communities by eliminating the barriers that cause poverty or reduce our clients’ access to economic mobility. We continually search for ways to help people improve their lives and communities.

Qualifications: Candidates admitted or eligible for admission to the bar of the State of New York are preferred. LSCNY will consider 2024 law school graduates.

Attributes of a successful candidate are:

• A commitment to providing high quality legal assistance to low-income and under-served populations.
• A commitment to race equity, anti-racism, and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services.
• Analytical, legal writing, and advocacy skills.
• Organizational and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• The ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual is a plus.

Opportunities for Professional Development: LSCNY is committed to creating opportunities for development and career advancement. We invest in skills, substantive law, and leadership training for our staff. We encourage attorneys to become active in the state and local bar associations and local community organizations.

Closing date:  Closing date for applications: when filled.

Salary/Benefits:  Starting salaries for a New York admitted attorney range from $70,000 to $100,540 depending on experience. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. We have an excellent benefits package and a generous leave policy. LSCNY pays for bar memberships, attorney registration, and training opportunities, including Mandatory Continuing Legal Education courses.

Application:  Applications must include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. LSCNY invites applicants to include in their cover letter a statement of how your unique background and experience might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Director of Human Resources

Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.

221 South Warren Street, Suite 300

Syracuse, New York 13202

Email: hiring@lscny.org

Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring, retaining, and promoting so we can be more creative, effective, and just, bringing more varied perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, talents, and interests to the practice of law and the administration of justice. We accept, respect, and value differences that include attributes such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, language, socioeconomic status, marital and parental status, national origin, immigration status, and cultural background. We strongly encourage individuals with historically marginalized identities to apply.

RECEPTIONIST

Position Overview: Legal services of Central New York, Inc. will hire a Receptionist who will be assigned to the Syracuse Office. This position performs general receptionist duties including answering incoming calls, retrieving and returning messages, greeting clients, completing client intakes as needed, making copies, faxes, and other tasks as needed or assigned.

Our Organization: For more than 55 years, we have sought to make a difference in clients’ lives and their communities by eliminating the barriers that cause poverty to reduce our client’s access to economic mobility. LSCNY is committed to achieving justice for low-income people and those who have difficult accessing the justice system. We are deeply committed to principles of anti-racism and race equality in all we do.

Qualifications:

• Ability and desire to ensure a welcoming reception space as the point of first contact for clients and the community.
• Commitment to assisting LSCNY staff in the provision of high-quality legal assistance to low-income and under-served population
• Excellent communication skills and sensitivity to low-income and marginalized populations
• Computer skills – Experience with or proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel), Adobe, as well as other basic programs as needed. Ability to quickly learn and use case management systems
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a busy office and prioritize work
• Excellent organizational skills
• Bilingual or multi-lingual preferred but not required

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Open and close reception on time each day
• Conduct client intake as needed
• Welcome on-site visitors, determine nature of visit and announce visitors to appropriate staff, answer incoming calls, forward calls and messages to appropriate staff, make copies
• Maintain professional courteous relationships with clients, vendors, guests and staff
• Help ensure confidentiality of all participant information.
• Serve as liaison between building maintenance and cleaning staff
• Be a notary public or willing to become a notary public and perform such duties as needed.
• Maintain the reception area in a clean, organized manner.
• Receive and route mail.
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned.

Closing Date for Applications: When filled.

Salary/Benefits: Starting salary is from $38,250.00 to $56,734.00. Starting salaries are determined by a collective bargaining agreement based on years of relevant experience. We have an excellent benefits package and generous leave policy.

Application: Your application must include a cover letter, resume, and three references. Please email your application to:

Director of Human Resources

Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.

221 South Warren Street, Suite 300

Syracuse, New York 13202

Email: hiring@lscny.org

Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring, retainment, and promoting so we can be more creative, effective, and just, bringing more varied perspective, experiences, and backgrounds, talents, and interest into the practice of law and the administration of justice. We accept, respect, and value differences that include attributes such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, language, socioeconomic status, marital and parental status, national origin, immigration status, and cultural background. We strongly encourage individuals with historically marginalized identities to apply.