Supervising Attorney, DOD

The Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) is seeking an attorney for our discharge upgrade practice.

VAP provides free legal services to low-income veterans and their families, with a focus on those living with post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injury, and substance dependency. The VA's records indicate that an average of 17 veterans die by suicide each day—too many struggle with mental health conditions and the effects of trauma. Our services provide access to health care and benefits, open the door to education and employment, keep families in their homes, and empower veterans by removing barriers to recovery. We partner with VA Vet centers, community health clinics, and veterans' organizations to reach individuals where they are. While our attorneys tackle legal challenges, our advocates connect clients with appropriate resources.

The ideal candidate is someone who has both experience in the practice and enjoys supervising new attorneys and law students. Our organization has a full docket of discharge upgrade applications, including a long waitlist for services. While this position will be a management/supervisory role, we are a small organization so there will be a good amount of case work. In line with our mission, our DU cases focus on the unjust treatment of individuals living with mental illness and those experiencing symptoms from the impact of trauma, both mental and physical. Our work covers discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, and other characteristics subject to prejudice.

We are looking for an attorney who believes in a client-centric approach, which includes connecting veterans to partner services outside the legal sphere. The attorney wants to fight for clients no matter the era, amount of time in service, justice involvement, discharge, or type of injury.

The position requires that the individual supervise a small team, research and write applications and briefs, collaborate with providers to obtain forensic evaluations and maintain relationships with psychiatric/psychological forensic programs, assist with the management of a large pro bono docket, and appear before Department of Defense Review Boards. The attorney will also work with all members of the veterans law teams on systemic advocacy efforts.

Individuals with military service, prior experience working with veterans, people with disabilities, people of all gender identities, people from underrepresented communities, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

• Represent clients before DOD boards and potentially in federal court;
• Write discharge upgrade applications and briefs;
• Screen (supervise the screening of) veterans for relief, including exhaustive investigation of military history, post-service conduct, and medical records;
• Share responsibility in overseeing law students working on investigations and briefs;
• Organize programs for and provide guidance to pro bono attorneys;
• Collaborate with expert witnesses, including forensic mental health professionals;
• Research legal issues, with a focus on military discharges;
• Provide telephone and/or written advice to clients;
• Supervise and work with staff on case strategies and integration of services to meet clients' needs as holistically as possible;
• Work with the team to shape policy positions and advocacy agenda;
• Track client information in our database, run reports required by funders, attend meetings, perform administrative tasks related to the work.

Qualifications:

• Current member in good standing of a state bar (New York preferred);
• Minimum five years' experience doing discharge upgrade work;
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills;
• Excellent communication skills, including a commitment to trauma-informed services and the ability to assist people living with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury;
• Ability to work independently with strong motivation and initiative, to meet deadlines, and to be flexible;
• Experience managing projects and teams;
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and veterans' issues;
• Knowledge of UCMJ, DODI, and branch regulations (preferred);
• Experience working with expert witnesses—specifically, forensic mental health professionals (preferred).

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience and in the range of $94,000 – $130,000. Full benefits package including employer-paid healthcare premiums, life insurance, dental and vision plans, 401K, etc.

Location: The job is remote but proximity to the New York metropolitan area is strongly preferred given our partnerships and that the position is supported by a contract with the City of New York, along with various grants.

To apply: Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample of a discharge upgrade/correction brief to hiring@veteranadvocacy.org and include "DOD" in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but those without a cover letter will not be considered. We read every application with care but regret that we are unable to respond to inquiries and will contact only those candidates selected for further consideration.

Veteran Advocacy Project, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, immigration status, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, military status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record, unemployment status, predisposing genetic characteristics, survivor of domestic/intimate partner violence status, or marital or partnership status.