Careers

 

Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring, retaining, and promoting so we can be more creative, effective, and just, bringing more varied perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, talents, and interests to the practice of law and the administration of justice. We accept, respect, and value differences that include attributes such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, language, socioeconomic status, marital and parental status, national origin, immigration status, and cultural background. We strongly encourage individuals with historically marginalized identities to apply. 

Please direct all responses to:

Director of Human Resources
Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.
221 South Warren Street, Suite 300
Syracuse, New York 13202
Email:
hiring@lscny.org

About

Careers

Current Positions

STAFF ATTORNEY

Position: Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. will hire several staff attorneys for positions available in offices in the Syracuse, Utica, and Binghamton regions based on the needs of the local communities served. 

Responsibilities: Staff Attorneys engage in exciting and interesting comprehensive legal representation including advice, negotiation, litigation, and administrative advocacy. LSCNY staff attorneys represent clients in essentials-of-life matters like housing, public benefits, unemployment insurance, employment matters, consumer, education, and other civil matters. Attorneys collaborate in teams led by an experienced supervisor.

Housing stability matters, especially eviction defense, are a substantial portion of the attorney’s caseload. Our attorneys regularly appear in City, Town, and Village Courts across our service area in eviction cases. Attorneys are encouraged to work on advocacy and projects beyond individual casework. Attorneys are expected to conduct community outreach and work to build essential partnerships with local community organizations. Hybrid work is available subject to the terms of a negotiated agreement.

Our Organization: Legal Services of Central New York (LSCNY) is committed to achieving justice for low-income people and those who have difficulty accessing the justice system. We are deeply committed to principles of anti-racism and race equity in all we do. For more than 56 years, we have sought to make a difference in clients’ lives and their communities by eliminating the barriers that cause poverty or reduce our clients’ access to economic mobility. We continually search for ways to help people improve their lives and communities.

Qualifications: Candidates admitted or eligible for admission to the bar of the State of New York are preferred. LSCNY will consider 2023 law school graduates.

Attributes of a successful candidate are:

  • A commitment to providing high quality legal assistance to low-income and under-served populations.
  • A commitment to race equity, anti-racism, and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services.
  • Analytical, legal writing, and advocacy skills.
  • Organizational and interpersonal skills.
  • The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
  • The ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
  • Bilingual or multi-lingual is a plus.

Opportunities for Professional Development: LSCNY is committed to creating opportunities for development and career advancement. We invest in skills, substantive law, and leadership training for our staff. We encourage attorneys to become active in the state and local bar associations and local community organizations.

Closing date:  Closing date for applications: when filled.

Salary/Benefits:  Starting salaries for a New York admitted attorney range from $70,000 to $100,540 depending on experience. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. We have an excellent benefits package and a generous leave policy. LSCNY pays for bar memberships, attorney registration, and training opportunities, including Mandatory Continuing Legal Education courses.

Application:  Applications must include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. LSCNY invites applicants to include in their cover letter a statement of how your unique background and experience might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.

Please email your application to:

Director of Human Resources
Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.
221 South Warren Street, Suite 300
Syracuse, New York 13202
Email: hiring@lscny.org

BINGHAMTON BRANCH SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST

Position Overview: Legal Services of Central New York, Inc. will hire a Branch Secretary/Receptionist who will be assigned to the Binghamton Office. This position performs general administrative duties including serving as a receptionist for a busy non-profit law firm; answering incoming calls, retrieving, and returning messages, making copies, faxes, intake of client information and other tasks as needed or assigned. This position serves to support staff attorneys in our representation of clients in several civil legal areas of law including housing, consumer, education, health, public benefits, and employment matters.

Our Organization: For more than 55 years, we have sought to make a difference in clients’ lives and their communities by eliminating the barriers that reduce our client’s access to economic mobility. LSCNY is committed to achieving justice for low-income people and those who have difficult accessing the justice system. We are deeply committed to principles of anti-racism and race equality in all we do.

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to race equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
  • Commitment to assisting LSCNY staff in providing high-quality legal assistance to low-income and under-served populations.
  • Ability and desire to ensure a welcoming and inclusive reception space as the point of first contact for clients and the community.
  • An associate or bachelor’s degree and some experience as a legal secretary in a law office or equivalent experience is desired but not required.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel), working with PDFs, as well as other basic programs as needed. Ability to maintain online calendars and electronic room schedules, and ability to quickly learn and use Legal Server, our case management system.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a busy office and prioritize work.
  • Ability to use good judgment in making decisions.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Must be willing to work reasonable overtime when requested.
  • Lived experiences in communities we serve is desirable.
  • Bilingual or multi-lingual with able to read, write, and speak Spanish proficiently is a plus.
  • Ability to meet occasional local travel demands: A valid driver’s license and ability to drive are required.
  • Be a notary public or willing to become a notary public and perform such duties as needed.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

  • Ensure the office is opened and closed on time each day.
  • Conduct client intake, ensure client documents are in file, and identify imminent or urgent deadlines while ensuring client confidentiality.
  • Answer basic program related questions, assist with program paperwork.
  • Serve as a receptionist: welcome visitors to the office, determine purpose of visit and announce visitors to appropriate staff, answer incoming calls, forward calls and messages to appropriate staff, make copies, and assemble program materials and packets.
  • Manage documents, maintain files, and assist with completion of client documents.
  • Print case closing information from case management system, file cases and maintain on-site office file storage.
  • Maintain professional courteous relationships with other staff, clients, community organizations, opposing counsel, and court staff.
  • Assist attorney staff with basic correspondence and drafting.
  • Assist with inventory of program supplies, maintaining office equipment as needed, order, receive and organize office supplies.
  • Serve as liaison between building maintenance and cleaning staff, maintain general organization/cleanliness of office, and assist with room set-ups and breakdowns as needed.
  • Receive, sort, scan/route and send mail to proper party.
  • Be willing to participate in training new staff assigned to the office.
  • Perform other administrative duties as assigned.

Closing Date for Applications: When filled.

Salary/Benefits: Starting salary is from $38,250 to $56,734. Starting salaries are determined by CBA based upon experience. We have excellent benefits and generous leave including, Health, Vision, Dental, Life/Disability Insurance, Health Savings Account, Flexible Savings Account, 403(b) and Employer Retirement Contribution, Mileage Reimbursement, Training, 14 Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick, Personal, Parental and Bereavement Leave, Jury Duty, EAP, Exercise Rewards and Relocation Assistance (if eligible).

Application: Your application must include a cover letter, resume, writing sample (optional), and three references. Please email your application to:

Director of Human Resources
Legal Services of Central New York, Inc.
221 South Warren Street, Suite 300
Syracuse, New York 13202
Email: hiring@lscny.org