Government Benefits Director or Deputy Director

at  Legal Services NYC

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. Further, LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts and aims to create a work environment where everyone can bring their full selves to the work.
MANHATTAN LEGAL SERVICES, a part of Legal Services NYC, is seeking dynamic and committed attorneys to serve as either a Deputy Unit Director or Unit Director, depending on the level of experience and interest, in our Government Benefits Unit. Manhattan Legal Services is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), the largest provider of free civil legal services for low- income people in the country. The Manhattan office is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services in the areas of housing, family law, government benefits, employment, immigration, consumer, education, and disability rights, and LGBTQ+/HIV advocacy. We work in partnership with community-based organizations in the communities we serve to address the causes of homelessness, hunger, and family disintegration. This is an exciting opportunity for skilled and motivated leaders and attorneys.
The Government Benefits Unit fights to retain, obtain, or increase critical government benefits, including public assistance, SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, and rental subsidies (such as FHEPS and CityFHEPS). We also specialize in health law issues, helping people obtain or retain public health insurance and services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care.
We seek candidates who are excited to work in a fast-paced environment and use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice. The Deputy Unit Director or Unit Director will supervise to shape the direction of the Government Benefits Unit, develop and strengthen relationships with partner community-based organizations, handle administrative and grant responsibilities, and identify systemic benefits-related trends for strategic litigation. The responsibilities will also include handling and supervising the Benefits Housing Court clinic, administrative proceedings, affirmative litigation, and appeals; helping to develop and file affirmative litigation; and co-counseling complex cases as well as supervising and training Benefits advocates and handling a caseload focusing on a variety of benefits issues, including filing affirmative litigation in public benefits issues. The Deputy Unit Director or Unit Director will participate in working groups focused on making institutional changes that better serve benefits recipients in New York City and collaborate with other LSNYC benefits units to initiate and continue systemic positive change.

Candidates must be 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;
• A minimum of 3 years of experience providing civil legal services to low-income people or comparable relevant experience for a Deputy Unit Director position, and 5 years of experience for a Unit Director;
• At least 3 years of experience in government benefits for a Deputy Unit Director, and 5 years of experience for a Unit Director;
• At least 1 year of supervision experience for a Deputy Unit Director and 2 years of supervision experience for a Unit Director;
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to supervise a diverse, fast-paced, and high-volume caseload;
• Excellent leadership skills;

• An ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds; • Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging issues; and

• Strong cultural or personal ties to the communities we serve preferred.

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

Please refer the Job description for details