Supervising Attorney - Family Law/Domestic Violence Unit

MANHATTAN LEGAL SERVICES

SUPERVISING ATTORNEY – FAMILY LAW UNIT

About Our Organization:

Manhattan Legal Services (MLS) is seeking a supervising attorney to join our Family Law Unit. 

MLS is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), the largest provider of free civil legal services for low-income people in the country. The Manhattan office is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services in the areas of housing, family law, public benefits, employment, immigration, consumer, education, and disability rights. The Manhattan program has designated units serving particularly vulnerable populations including intimate partner violence survivors, people living with HIV, and people identifying as LGBTQ.  We work in close collaboration with low-income communities in NYC.

As a community-centered, social justice organization, MLS is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where staff and clients feel welcome.  Through our various affinity groups and committees, we actively work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore, grow in our understanding of and challenge barriers to opportunity within our organization and through our legal work.  All employees are expected to learn about and seek to understand, identify and overcome barriers to justice, from individual preconceptions to structural obstacles, and work to realize our organizational goals and mission.

The Role: 

MLS’ Family Law Unit focuses on survivors of intimate partner violence and is an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, a social worker, and a paralegal whose mission it is to provide holistic and culturally competent services to empower survivors of intimate partner violence to live free of abuse. Our attorneys provide direct legal representation to intimate partner violence survivors in the full range of family law cases, including divorce, custody/visitation, orders of protection, and child support. Furthermore, we conduct outreach and work in partnerships with community groups to ensure that we are best serving the community. This is a great opportunity to practice holistic family law in underserved communities in Harlem and Upper Manhattan.  

This supervising attorney position will be two-fold: they will have a smaller caseload of their own, providing legal advice and representation in a broad range of the most complex legal matters stemming from a survivor’s abuse, and not limited to family law representation. For example, in consultation with MLS’ other units, the attorney can work on economic justice matters such as public benefits or housing, or immigration matters that affect the client’s independence and safety from abuse. In addition, this position will aid victims of crime, including providing information about Crime Victims' Assistance and assisting clients in applying for benefits and compensation through the Office of Victims Services. 

This position will also oversee the work of staff attorneys, providing legal guidance, mentorship, training, and performance evaluations to ensure compliance with legal standards and best practices in client representation. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead a dedicated team and make a significant impact in the lives of survivors of intimate partner violence in underserved communities. 

In addition, there is a community outreach component to the work, including doing client intake at regular outreach clinics, sometimes after-hours; establishing relationships with community-based organizations that serve survivors of intimate partner violence; and attending community-centered meetings and events, occasionally, after-hours and on weekends; and representing clients in a number of courts and administrative fora.

Job Duties

• Conducting intakes, interviewing clients, providing advice, brief services, and assessments for legal representation for new clients.
• Providing safety planning and legal referrals to clients.
• Advising and representing survivors of intimate partner violence in family law and matrimonial cases in New York County Family, Supreme and Integrated Domestic Violence courts.
• Advising and representing survivors of intimate partner violence in other Federal, State, and local courts and administrative bodies as appropriate.
• Representing Manhattan Legal Services at community events, stakeholders’ meetings, and off-site legal clinics.
• Conducting community outreach and education with our community-based partners.
• Providing training to both legal and other community members, such as Know Your Rights training.
• Complying with grant requirements, including providing information about Crime Victims' Assistance and aiding clients in applying for benefits and compensation through the Office of Victims Services
• Developing and maintaining relationships with individuals, organizations, and government agencies within the intimate partner violence and legal community in New York City.
• Working with social work team to assist clients in accessing non-legal support services and referrals.
• Supervising two – four family law attorneys in all aspects of their job.
• Providing feedback on attorneys’ written, oral, and in-court advocacy.
• Co-counsel complex cases.

Qualifications and Skills

• Admission to the New York State Bar required;
• 5+ years of matrimonial and family law practice required;
• 2+ years of family law supervision experience, which can include consistent intern supervision, or mentoring pro bono or junior attorneys;
• Ability to supervise two – four attorneys with large and diverse family law caseloads;
• 2+ years of general litigation experience; for example in immigration, housing, public benefits, or related areas of legal services preferred;
• Excellent analytical, writing, communication, oral advocacy, trial, and organization skills;
• Fluency or strong working ability in Spanish, or other language(s) commonly spoken by our client communities strongly preferred;
• Experience working directly with survivors of intimate partner violence strongly preferred;
• Demonstrated passion for public interest law, social justice and commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equality.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples. Cover letters must discuss particularized interest in working with the survivors of intimate partner violence.

Salary and benefits are determined by the LSNYC Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls.

Manhattan Legal Services is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.  People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons and persons over 40 are welcome and encouraged to apply.