Staff Attorney - Government Benefits Unit

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. 

GOVERNMENT BENEFITS UNIT ATTORNEYS, MANHATTAN LEGAL SERVICES

MANHATTAN LEGAL SERVICES seeks attorneys to represent low-income clients in government benefits matters. This office is part of Legal Services NYC, the largest provider of free civil legal services for low-income people in the country.  We are dedicated to fighting poverty by providing high-quality legal services in areas such housing, family law, public benefits, employment, consumer, education, immigration, and disability rights, with special units serving vulnerable populations including domestic violence victims, people living with HIV, and LGTBQIA+ community members. We are committed to working in partnership with community-based organizations in the low-income communities we serve in order to address the causes of poverty.  

The Government Benefits Unit fights to retain, obtain, or increase critical public benefits, including public assistance, SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, emergency rental arrears grants, and rental subsidies (such as FHEPS and CityFHEPS). We also provide assistance with health law issues, helping people obtain or retain public health insurance and services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care.

While representing our low-income clients in various public benefits matters, the staff attorneys will also work to continue to grow our public benefits practice, provide community education, and engage in public policy advocacy on public benefits issues. The attorneys will participate in working groups focused on making institutional changes in agency practice that better serve benefits recipients in our City and collaborate with other LSNYC benefits units to initiate and continue systemic positive change. We are looking for a candidate who is excited to work in a fast-paced environment, work daily with our clients and communities, and use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assess potential clients for public benefits eligibility by conducting intake and interviewing Manhattan tenants at Housing Court who are referred to MLS through the right-to-counsel initiative in NYC housing courts
• Advocate with administrative agencies to challenge denials, reductions, or terminations of public benefits
• Conduct community education and outreach
• Engage in case advocacy, including housing subsidy applications, public assistance applications, and administrative hearings
• Direct representation of clients in administrative proceedings, Civil Court, Supreme Court, and federal court

Experience & Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of experience as a legal services attorney, including public benefits, Medicaid, or housing benefits work
• Experience and expertise in One-Shot Deals, SNAP, Medicaid and other public benefits
• Demonstrated communication habits that are consistently prompt and highly responsive
• Collaborative orientation, capacity to work in a team, and solution-oriented approach
• Strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
• Experience working with underserved communities
• Strong cultural or personal ties to the communities we serve
• D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York Bar
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range (Based on years’ experience):

• 1–10 years: $85,612-$110,423
• 11–20 years: $112,949-$133,346
• 21+ years: $139,500+

MLS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, generous paid leave, and an employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan.

This position is a non-managerial position. Staff members who are not managers are members of the LSSA/NOLSW UAW Local 2320 Union.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Manhattan Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to race, gender, and economic justice in our work and within our workplace. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people over 40.

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.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.