Director of Disability Advocacy Project

Director Of Disability Advocacy Project

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer.

Brooklyn Legal Services, part of Legal Services NYC, provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn's diverse low-income population. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients, such as preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic violence, and advocating for people with disabilities. The Disability Advocacy Project (DAP) assists low-income residents of Brooklyn who seek federal Social Security benefits based on mental and/or physical disabilities.

DAP assists clients with case development, representation at administrative hearings, appeals, and issues that arise after an award of benefits. We also collaborate with other providers and community partners to develop and implement strategies to remove systemic barriers to obtaining disability benefits. DAP works with people with a wide range of disabilities, including home-bound clients, clients with mental illness and clients with complex treatment schedules. DAP's highly qualified advocates are experts in assisting clients obtain disability benefits. The Director will work to support existing advocacy efforts as well as be responsible for broadening DAP's work to address systemic barriers facing people with disabilities.

As a community-centered, social justice organization, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where staff and clients feel welcome. Through our various affinity groups and committees, we actively work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore, grow in our understanding of and challenge barriers to opportunity within our organization and through our legal work. All employees are expected to learn about and seek to understand, identify and overcome barriers to justice, from individual preconceptions to structural obstacles, and work to realize our organizational goals and mission.

Role and Responsibilities:

The Director will be responsible for working with staff to develop and implement a strategic vision for DAP's work. The Director will also devise creative, high impact advocacy strategies to address systemic barriers facing people with disabilities. The Director will supervise DAP's attorneys and paralegals on a range of litigation including administrative proceedings, appeals and affirmative litigation in State and Federal Court. The Director will also be responsible for strengthening relationships with community partners and elected officials, addressing systemic disability issues, and handling administrative and grant responsibilities. The Director will be expected to work collaboratively with and provide leadership for LSNYC's city-wide disability rights practice. Every supervisor is expected to actively engage in learning and become increasingly skilled in supervision that supports staff and clients of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences and ensure that all are treated with compassion, dignity and respect. The Director's duties will include actively working to advance LSNYC's organizational mission.

Experience and Qualifications:

We seek an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar with:

• A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity;
• Excellent analytical, written, and communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and the ability to provide supportive and consistent supervision to a diverse team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff in a fast paced and high-volume practice;
• Minimum of five years of litigation experience;
• Admission to the federal bar or ability to be admitted quickly; and
• Demonstrated expertise in disability law and policy, or experience with complex litigation.

How to Apply

Applicants should upload a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to the Greenhouse portal.

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

BLS offers an excellent benefits package and highly competitive public interest salary. LSNYC employees receive excellent benefits, including health, dental, and vision plans; contributions to a 403(b) plan; and generous leave time, and have access to a robust training and professional development program. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Brooklyn Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer: people of color; women; people with disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; and people over the age of 40 are welcome and encouraged to apply. We are committed to race, gender, and economic justice in our work and within our workplace. Staff members who are not managers are members of the LSSA/NOLSW UAW Local 2320.

Dependent on work history and experience.

Salary Range

$132,096 - $198,144 USD

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.