WOMEN'S PRISON ASSOCIATION is hiring: Law Project Director (Part-time) in New Yo

Position Description:

The Law Project Director oversees the administration of WPA’s legal service program which provides a broad range of civil legal assistance to WPA client-participants. The Law Project Director coordinates and collaborates with WPA administrative staff and program staff to ensure that accessible, high quality legal services are readily available to every client-participant seeking legal help, information, advice or counsel and that services are responsive and sensitive to their individual needs. The Law Project Director provides mentoring and supervision to Legal Project staff and volunteers and serves as a resource for agency staff and other community partners serving justice system involved women. The Law Project Director supports justice system involved women in their efforts to understand and enforce their legal rights and to overcome obstacles, harms and adverse collateral consequences resulting from carceral system involvement. The Law Project Director plans and participates in outreach opportunities and educational programs on matters impacting systems-involved women and their families. The Law Project Director initiates and participates in opportunities for social change through legislative reform, as amicus in class action lawsuits, by coalition membership and by participating in advocacy and social reform initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Provide in-house family law and other civil legal services to WPA client-participants and systems impacted women in the community and in prison or jail.
• Provide support, mentoring, training, administrative supervision and professional development opportunities to the Coordinator for Client Support and Advocacy.
• Assist women returning to the community following incarceration to overcome barriers to successful re-entry and re-integration into their communities.
• Provide gender-responsive and trauma-informed legal services to systems impacted women.
• Provide technical support and legal consultations to WPA colleagues on legal issues impacting client-participants.
• Provide outreach on relevant legal issues to community based service providers and their client-participants with justice system involvement.
• Conduct educational trainings on legal issues impacting justice system involved women and their families and communities.
• Provide family law consultations, advice, legal counsel, advocacy, referrals, crisis intervention, pro se assistance and, as appropriate, direct representation on issues including: family reunification, child protection, foster care, termination of parental rights, adoption, custody, visitation/parenting time, guardianship, child support, paternity, intimate partner/family violence and divorce.
• Provide civil legal services on issues including, but not limited to, economic and employment issues, housing/eviction, discrimination, identity theft, disability rights and benefits, immigration and bankruptcy, public benefits.
• Provide legal assistance on issues related to collateral consequences of criminal convictions including review and corrections to RAP sheets, application for certificates of relief from disability or good conduct, sealing records, clemency applications, as well as advocacy and support in vacatur of warrants.
• Coordinate and collaborate with each WPA program to ensure that staff and client-participants are familiar with and able to access Law Project services.
• Participate with senior and executive staff in promoting the agency’s mission and values, both within and outside of the agency.
• Participate and represent WPA in coalitions, collaborations, and other initiatives involving legislation, public policies, and administrative procedures affecting women involved in the justice and child protective systems.
• Maintain client records in secure, confidential manner.
• Complete funding reports and ensure compliance with grants and other funding requirements.
• Explore opportunities to expand and re-envision Law Project services to meet client and community need.
• Access pro bono services, as appropriate, for Law Project clients and provide support and mentoring to pro bono attorneys assisting WPA Law Project clients.
• Provide opportunities and mentoring for law students through summer and academic year internships.
• Remain informed about and engaged in policy and legislative reforms relevant to the WPA mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Law Degree (JD or LLM).
• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• Minimum of five years experience as a family law practitioner or generalist civil legal practitioner with background in re-entry, housing, public benefits, disability, employment and/or immigration law.
• Familiarity with and sensitivity to the impact that carceral systems have on women, families and communities.
• Commitment to providing high caliber, supportive, non-judgmental legal assistance to clients of diverse backgrounds.
• Must have strong written and verbal skills.
• Must have substantial knowledge of public and not-for-profit legal and social service resources in New York City and the metropolitan area.
• Must be organized, detail oriented, solution oriented, and able to work well both in collaboration with others and independently.
• Must have commitment to protecting attorney-client privilege and to maintaining the highest ethical standards of the legal profession.
• Litigation and legal writing skills strongly preferred.
• Spanish or other bilingual proficiency preferred.
• Must appreciate the racial, gender, and socioeconomic dynamics of underserved communities, with a particular familiarity with issues facing systems-involved women.
• Must believe in WPA’s mission, with a passion to serve underserved populations.

Compensation:

Compensation for this role is $45 per hour for up to 30 hours per week, commensurate with year of admission to practice law and relevant experience. WPA offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, employer paid dental insurance, extremely generous paid time off, 403(b) and paid leave, as well as:

• Employee Assistance Program.
• Credit Union Membership Options.
• Direct Deposit Money Paycard.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tax Deferred Commuting Benefits.
• 529 College Savings Plan.
• “Alcott HR Marketplace” Employee Discount Program.
• “Aspiring Professionals” Scholarship Program.

WPA strongly values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. WPA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, religious or political affiliation or any other classification considered discriminatory under applicable law. Individuals with criminal justice involvement are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please email your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to jobs@wpaonline.org. You must include "Law Project Director” in the subject line of your email.