Consultation Attorney, Family Law

POSITION OVERVIEW

Sanctuary for Families seeks an experienced family law attorney to focus on legal consultations and pro se services for clients who come to the Bronx Family Justice Center seeking assistance with family offense, custody/visitation, and child/spousal support proceedings, as well as matrimonial matters. The Consultation Attorney will provide civil legal screenings and legal consultations, assist pro se clients by drafting family law petitions and other filings, represent a small caseload of clients, and coordinate and conduct Sanctuary’s pro se clinics. The Consultation Attorney will provide technical assistance to FJC partner agencies, conduct community outreach, training and education in Bronx, actively engage in advocacy committees and task forces, and collaborate with other agencies to advocate for systemic change. They will coordinate and supervise staff attorneys, project assistants, pro bono attorneys, interns, and volunteers. The Consultation Attorney will work out of our Bronx Family Justice Center office and will report to the Associate Program Director and Senior Program Director of the Family Law Project at the Bronx Family Justice Center.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides initial civil legal screenings and any necessary follow-up legal consultations to clients seeking family law assistance, including drafting of pro se petitions and other filings
In collaboration with the Associate Program Director and Senior Program Director, creates, implements, coordinates and conducts ongoing family law legal clinics to assist clients in drafting pro se petitions for Family and Supreme Courts.
Collaborates with FJC family law projects across the five FJC’s to create, implement and coordinate pro se services and clinics and collaborates with other SFF legal projects.
Supervises and mentors staff attorneys, project assistants, pro bono attorneys, interns, and volunteers.
In collaboration with the Associate Program Director and Senior Program Director, participates in the recruiting and onboarding of project assistants.
Assists Associate Program Director and Senior Program Director with performance evaluation of legal support staff.
Together with the Associate Program Director and Senior Program Director, participates in internal management audits and reviews, and designs and implements program improvements using outcome-based evaluations, among other tools
Provides direct representation to a small caseload of clients in family law matters, including matrimonial, family offense, custody and visitation, and child and spousal support cases.
Provides other advocacy as needed, including the criminal legal and child protective systems.
Facilitates clients’ access to intra-agency and outside resources, and administers provision of direct financial assistance and donations to clients.
Provides technical assistance to FJC partner agencies.
Conducts community outreach, training and education.
Actively engages in advocacy committees and task forces, and collaborates with other agencies to advocate for systemic change.
Participates in interagency conferences and legal/ bar association committee meetings to keep abreast of developments in the areas of pro bono, domestic violence, and legal remedies for victims of domestic violence.
Performs any other department or agency-related duties or special projects as directed by supervisor.
Requirements

J.D. degree
Admission to the NY Bar
(3) or more years of relevant family law experience required
Foreign language skills a plus
Strong lawyering, advocacy, and leadership skills
Enjoy working collaboratively and be comfortable speaking in public
Highly motivated to provide zealous, knowledgeable, culturally competent, and empathic legal advocacy to domestic violence victims
Ability to work well with people from diverse communities and backgrounds