Kaianerenhsera Aorihwa:ke Shakotihshienons Project / Legal Services for Veterans Staff Attorney

Job Description

Job Description

Two Communities. One Commitment. Extraordinary Work.

Some legal careers are defined by the clients you serve. This is one of them.

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY) is seeking a Staff Attorney for a uniquely meaningful dual-program role: serving members and residents of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe through our KAS Project, and serving veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through our VA Legal Services for Veterans - Homelessness (LSV-H) program. These are not simply two caseloads - they are two communities with deep histories, distinct needs, and an abiding right to justice. The attorney who fills this role will be trusted to show up for both, with skill, cultural humility, and genuine care.

This position is based in our Canton office and includes regular in-person presence on the Akwesasne territory. If you are an attorney who believes that the law should work for everyone - that a tribal elder navigating a housing dispute and a veteran on the edge of homelessness both deserve a zealous, compassionate advocate - we want to hear from you.

About the Programs

KAS Project - Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

For the people of Akwesasne, legal problems rarely arrive in isolation. Housing insecurity, family disruption, loss of benefits - these challenges intersect in ways that can be difficult to untangle without skilled legal help. Since 2021, LASNNY has been honored to stand alongside the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe as a trusted civil legal services partner. The KAS Project - Kaianerenhsera Aorihwa:ke Shakotihshienons (law or legal matters which people help with) - reflects that partnership in its name and in its mission.

Unlike many legal aid programs, the KAS Project operates without income or asset restrictions for eligible tribal members and Akwesasne residents. Every person who reaches out deserves to be heard. The attorney in this role will carry forward a relationship built on years of trust, service, and deep respect for Tribal sovereignty, cultural identity, and community values. This is legal aid as relationship - not just representation.

VA Legal Services for Veterans - Homelessness (LSV-H)

The men and women who served our country should never have to fight for a roof over their heads alone. Yet for too many veterans, civil legal problems - an unlawful eviction, a wrongful benefits denial, a family law matter spiraling out of control - become the barrier standing between them and stable housing. LASNNY's LSV-H program, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, exists to remove those barriers.

As an LSV-H attorney, you will work alongside VA case managers, veteran service organizations, and community partners to deliver timely, effective legal help to veterans who are homeless or at serious risk of losing their housing. The work is urgent, the clients are resilient, and the impact is real.

Primary Responsibilities

KAS Project (SRMT)

• Provide civil legal advice and representation to tribal members and residents of Akwesasne in matters including housing, family law, public benefits, consumer law, and other civil legal needs
• Maintain a regular in-person presence on the Akwesasne territory to conduct client meetings, intake, and outreach
• Build and sustain relationships with tribal staff, leadership, and community partners in a manner consistent with cultural protocols and community norms
• Participate in SRMT community events, client education workshops, and outreach activities
• Handle matters in New York State courts and other applicable forums
• Maintain accurate case records and documentation in LegalServer in accordance with program and grant requirements

LSV-H (Veterans Program)

• Provide civil legal services to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including representation in eviction proceedings, landlord-tenant disputes, public benefits matters, family law, and other civil legal emergencies
• Identify and address legal barriers to housing stability, including consumer debt, outstanding warrants, driver's license reinstatement, military discharge upgrades, and protective orders
• Conduct intake and outreach at VA medical facilities, veteran service organizations, homeless service providers, and other community partner sites
• Collaborate with VA case managers, social workers, and other service providers as part of an interdisciplinary support team
• Maintain grant-compliant documentation and contribute to required LSV-H reporting and data collection
• Actively support program visibility and referral-building through community engagement and outreach

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active admission to the New York State Bar, or eligibility for admission
• A genuine and demonstrated commitment to public interest law and to the communities we serve
• Ability to work effectively and compassionately with individuals experiencing housing instability, poverty, trauma, or complex life circumstances
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills
• Capacity to manage a varied caseload with thoughtfulness, organization, and care

Preferred

• Experience in housing/eviction defense, family law, public benefits, consumer law, or veterans' benefits
• Experience working with Native American communities, or a demonstrated understanding of Tribal culture, governance, and sovereignty
• Experience serving veterans or familiarity with VA systems and veteran-specific legal issues
• Proficiency with