Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Staff Attorney

Practice Area/Department: Older Americans Project

Office Location(s): Utica and Binghamton, NY (two positions)

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: $84,240.00 - $92,286.00 (DOE)

Supervisor: Managing Attorney

Posting Date: November 9, 2026

Application Deadline: Until positions are filled

About LASMNYFor nearly 75 years, the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York (LASMNY) has provided free civil legal assistance to people who cannot afford an attorney. Our mission is to expand access to the essentials of life through high-quality, compassionate legal advocacy and education.Because legal problems rarely occur in isolation, we take a holistic approach that addresses the interconnected challenges affecting housing, income, benefits, health, and family stability. By working across practice areas and partnering with community organizations, we help clients achieve lasting solutions that extend beyond a single legal matter.Through offices in Utica, Syracuse, Binghamton, Oswego, Oneonta, and Watertown, LASMNY serves residents of thirteen counties across Central New York. Our Agricultural Worker Project also provides legal services to farmworkers throughout New York State.Job Summary

LASMNY is seeking two attorneys to join our Older Americans Project as Staff Attorneys, one based in our Utica office and one in our Binghamton office. This is an opportunity to build an elder law practice while helping older adults plan for the future, protect their income and health care, and remain safe and independent in their homes.

The Older Americans Project provides free legal help to adults age 60 and older. Much of this work is funded through county Offices for the Aging, which refer older residents to LASMNY for wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and other planning documents, and for advice on housing, consumer, public benefits, and family law matters.

Older adults are a growing share of the clients LASMNY serves, and their legal problems increasingly reach beyond planning documents. Many face debt collection and scams that threaten the Social Security income they live on, denials or reductions of Medicaid home care and other benefits, or family members who misuse their money or authority. The Staff Attorney helps clients resolve these problems before they lead to a loss of income, care, or housing, and works with LASMNY’s other practice areas and community partners to address the full range of a client’s needs.

The Staff Attorney carries a caseload of advice, brief service, and representation matters, conducts outreach and community education, and ensures compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations, grant requirements, and LASMNY policies. These are two positions, one in Utica and one in Binghamton. Both are well suited to law graduates awaiting admission and attorneys with up to three years of experience, and LASMNY provides the training and supervision new attorneys need to build an elder law practice.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide advice, brief services, and representation to adults age 60 and older, including clients referred by county Offices for the Aging.
• Prepare estate and advance planning documents, including simple wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and living wills, and advise on simple property matters such as transfers of a home between family members.
• Meet with clients at LASMNY offices, senior centers, and other community sites, and make home visits for clients who are homebound or in a nursing home or hospital.
• Represent clients in public benefits matters, including Medicaid eligibility and home care, Medicare coverage and the Medicare Savings Programs, SNAP, and Social Security, through fair hearings and other administrative appeals.
• Defend clients against debt collection, scams, and other consumer problems, including protecting Social Security and other exempt income from collection.
• Provide representation in guardianship and estate proceedings, as appropriate, to assist older adults and their families with matters affecting personal care, decision-making, and asset protection.
• Help clients respond to elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, working with Adult Protective Services and other partners to protect their safety and assets.
• Screen clients for related legal needs, such as housing, family law, and disability benefits, and coordinate with LASMNY’s other practice areas and community partners to address them.
• Build strong referral relationships with county Offices for the Aging, senior centers, Adult Protective Services, health care and home care providers, and other community partners.
• Conduct outreach and community legal education for older adults, caregivers, and service providers.
• Maintain accurate case, time, and grant reporting records in the case management system, including the reporting required under county Office for the Aging contracts.
• Stay current on developments in elder law and public benefits and maintain required Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.

Professional Standards

• Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive client information.
• Communicate effectively, patiently, and courteously with clients, family members, caregivers, staff, attorneys, court personnel, agency staff, and community partners.
• Respect each client’s right to make their own decisions, while staying alert to signs of undue influence, exploitation, or diminished capacity.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance in accordance with organizational policies.
• Adapt to new technologies and systems, including legal research tools and case management software.
• Comply with all Legal Services Corporation regulations, LASMNY policies and procedures, and grant-based reporting requirements.
• Perform additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by a supervisor based on agency needs.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Master of Laws (LL.M.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in New York State, or a law graduate awaiting admission. Attorneys admitted in another jurisdiction and eligible for admission on motion are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving older adults and low-income communities.
• Excellent written, verbal, and advocacy skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, case management systems, and computerized legal research.
• Ability to travel as needed, including to clients’ homes, community sites, courts, and other LASMNY offices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework, clinic participation, or work experience in elder law, trusts and estates, health law, or public benefits.
• Experience preparing wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, or other planning documents.
• Experience with Medicaid, Medicare, guardianship, or consumer law matters.
• Experience working with older adults, people with disabilities, or caregivers.
• Experience in civil legal services or other public interest practice.
• Proficiency in languages other than English.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, non-union position with a 35-hour workweek. Salary starts at $84,240.00 for law graduates awaiting admission and rises to $92,286.00 for attorneys with three years of experience. Placement is based on years of relevant experience. LASMNY anticipates increasing its pay scale in early 2027.

LASMNY offers a generous benefits package, and most benefits begin on the date of hire. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; basic and voluntary life insurance; a Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts; employer retirement contributions; paid vacation, sick, personal, parental, and bereavement leave; fourteen paid holidays; paid CLE registration, attorney registration fees, and local and New York State bar dues; professional development and training opportunities; mileage reimbursement and parking; relocation assistance; and an Employee Assistance Program. LASMNY is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Application Process

Qualified candidates are invited to apply through our online application system with a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are applying for the Utica position, the Binghamton position, or both. Click on the following link to apply:

Equal Opportunity Employer

LASMNY is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

LASMNY provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the application process. Please contact Human Resources to request assistance.

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