Staff Attorney – Public Benefits

Staff Attorney – Public Benefits

National Center for Law and Economic Justice

Title: Staff Attorney or Senior Attorney, depending on experience

Reports to: Director of Litigation and Advocacy

Exempt Salary: $95,721 - $105,272 based on years of experience

Location: NCLEJ’s office is located in New York City. Preference for NYC-based candidates.

NCLEJ’s Mission and Work:

NCLEJ advances the cause of economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities across the country, using ground-breaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. NCLEJ works to build systems that provide economic security and full participation in society to all. Our current advocacy focuses on 1) preserving and maintaining access to government benefits; 2) advancing the rights of lower wage workers; 3) combatting abusive debt collection and wealth extraction; and 4) advocating for disability justice. We litigate extensively in federal and state courts across the country, typically as lead counsel in class actions, and we partner with grassroots and community-based organizations, other legal organizations, and the private bar.

Staff Attorney’s Role:

NCLEJ seeks to hire an attorney with a strong commitment to racial, disability, and social justice and 7-10 years’ experience to engage in impact litigation and advocacy on an expanding range of civil rights and economic justice issues. While all NCLEJ attorneys have opportunities to work across practice areas, this position will have a strong focus on public benefits, supporting litigation and advocacy to improve access to and quality of public benefits programs and hold government agencies accountable.

Qualifications and Experience of the Ideal Candidate:

• 7-10 years’ hands-on experience with major impact litigation, including drafting complaints and briefs, motion practice, all phases of the discovery process, settlement negotiations, evidentiary hearings, trials and appeals.
• Substantive knowledge of one or more public benefits programs, such as SNAP, TANF or other cash assistance programs, WIC, HEAP, and/or SSI.
• Significant experience with non-litigation advocacy such as policy advocacy, communications, support of grassroots organizing and/or coalition work, preferably in a public benefits context.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients from a great diversity of backgrounds.
• Commitment to racial, disability, and social justice and NCLEJ’s mission.
• Ability to understand and navigate issues of identity, power and privilege with clients, partners, and colleagues.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong project and time management skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• J.D. degree, admission to the Bar of at least one state, and ability to get admitted in NY.

Vaccination Requirement: To help ensure that NCLEJ continues to operate in the safest manner possible, NCLEJ requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for medical and/or religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be considered on an individual basis, to the extent required by law.

Equal opportunity: NCLEJ is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and people from other historically disenfranchised communities to apply. NCLEJ does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital or parental status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. NCLEJ makes every effort to ensure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified individuals, including individuals with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for the role.