Staff Attorney

About LASMNY

The Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (LASMNY) is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to providing free legal information, advice, and representation to individuals who cannot afford an attorney. Guided by our mission to ensure equal access to justice, we assist low-income individuals facing civil legal issues that affect basic needs such as housing, safety, income, and healthcare. We are committed to protecting the rights of vulnerable populations, including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, immigrants, and survivors of domestic violence. LASMNY serves residents in thirteen counties across Central and Northern New York: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Otsego. Through our Agricultural Worker Project, we also provide legal services to agricultural workers throughout New York State.

Job Summary

The Economic Security Project provides civil legal services to low-income residents across Central New York facing consumer debt and student loan problems that threaten household stability, including debt collection lawsuits, medical debt, credit card and automobile loan debt, wage garnishments, frozen bank accounts, default judgments, and federal and private student loan matters.

The Staff Attorney will provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients, including advice, negotiation, motion practice, discovery, and litigation. The attorney will appear in consumer credit actions and enforcement proceedings, participate in education and outreach for community members, advocates, and service providers, and offer holistic assistance to clients whose debt problems intersect with housing, benefits, health, and employment.

This position is based in LASMNY’s Syracuse office and involves local travel to courts, client meetings, and outreach sites in the communities the office serves.

Essential Job Duties

• Manage a full caseload of clients facing consumer debt collection and student loan problems, ensuring high-quality legal services.
• Represent clients in consumer credit actions, including answering complaints within statutory periods, motion practice, and trial.
• Move to vacate default judgments and to vacate or release income executions, wage garnishments, and restrained bank accounts, and assert applicable exemptions from enforcement.
• Assert defenses and counterclaims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, New York General Business Law, and related State and federal consumer protection statutes.
• Advise and represent clients on medical debt, including hospital financial assistance and charity care eligibility, billing errors, and collection practices.
• Advise and represent student loan borrowers on repayment plans, forgiveness and discharge programs, default resolution, administrative advocacy, and private student loan defense, coordinating with the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program where appropriate.
• Negotiate settlements and payment agreements with creditors, debt buyers, collection agencies, and opposing counsel.
• Conduct legal research and draft pleadings, motions, memoranda, discovery requests and responses, and correspondence.
• Handle discovery, including document review, requests for production, and interrogatories, and prepare clients for hearings, depositions, and trial testimony.
• Provide holistic counseling on interconnected legal issues affecting financial stability, including housing, benefits, employment, and health, and connect clients with social services, financial counseling, and community resources.
• Assist with intake at courthouses and off-site locations, including during evening hours, to ensure accessibility for clients.
• Deliver Know Your Rights presentations and training on debt collection, wage garnishment, exempt income, and student loans for community members, community-based organizations, and consumer advocates.
• Participate in coalitions and task forces focused on consumer protection and economic justice.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case and time records in the case management system in compliance with LSC regulations, LASMNY policies, and grant reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with partner organizations, pro bono attorneys, and other stakeholders, and serve as an ambassador for LASMNY in the community.
• Stay current on developments in consumer protection, debt collection, and student loan law and policy.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, case consultations, and supervisory case reviews.
• Exhibit a strong commitment to advancing the mission of LASMNY.

Professional Standards

• Demonstrate the highest level of professionalism when handling confidential and sensitive client information.
• Communicate effectively and courteously with clients, attorneys, court personnel, agency staff, and community partners.
• 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.
• Eligible for admission to practice law in New York State. Law school graduates registered for the New York State Bar Exam, or eligible for admission on motion, are encouraged to apply.
• Excellent written, analytical, organizational, and oral advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and serving communities facing systemic barriers to justice.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, and manage a high volume of cases.

Preferred Qualifications

• Admission to practice law in New York State with zero to five years of experience.
• Experience in consumer debt defense, student loan counseling, or civil litigation.
• Familiarity with debt collection practice in City, Town, and Village Courts.
• Valid New York State driver license, or the ability to obtain one.
• Proficiency in languages other than English.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is paid pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. For law graduates who are not yet admitted, the salary is $78,000 pending admission. Upon admission, attorneys move to Step 0-1 at $80,000, with salaries increasing to $89,161 at Step 5-6. Placement is by years of relevant experience under the collective bargaining agreement.

This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW), UAW Local 2320. Hours, salary, and benefits are governed by the collective bargaining agreement in effect. LASMNY provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, paid leave, and professional development opportunities. 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. 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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