Staff Attorney, Worker Justice Project

4 weeks ago

New York, New York, United States The Legal Aid Society Full time
Job Description

The Legal Aid Society is seeking a Staff Attorney to join its Worker Justice Project in the Criminal Defense Practice. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with existing Employment Specialists to enhance legal services to current and former clients of the Criminal Defense Practice with issues concerning access to employment.

The Worker Justice Project combats discrimination faced by workers with arrest or conviction records living in New York City. Employers and licensing agencies unfairly deny qualified individuals the opportunity to work because of pending charges, past convictions, and even sealed or dismissed cases. This discrimination prevents countless New Yorkers from maintaining financial stability and supporting their families.

The Worker Justice Project fights this discrimination through a bold and comprehensive approach. The Project advises Criminal Defense Practice staff on the employment consequences of criminal case dispositions in order to minimize harm to clients' job opportunities and empowers workers with records to defend their rights. The Project also enforces the rights of workers who are unlawfully denied jobs or licenses because of arrest or conviction records by representing workers in administrative proceedings, pre-litigation advocacy, and affirmative litigation.

Worker Justice Project staff attorneys provide advice directly to Criminal Defense Practice attorneys, while also maintaining a large, separate caseload of employment discrimination/direct representation matters and engaging in policy work. In FY2024, the Worker Justice Project provided advice on approximately 1,200 criminal cases and provided legal services directly to Worker Justice Project clients in approximately 420 employment discrimination matters.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Advise Criminal Defense Practice attorneys on the employment consequences of their clients' criminal cases and criminal case dispositions
  • Provide advice and brief services to current and former Criminal Defense Practice clients who are being denied access to employment based on their criminal record
  • Represent current and former Criminal Defense Practice clients who have been denied access to employment based on their criminal record in administrative proceedings, pre-litigation advocacy, and affirmative litigation
  • Write complaints, motions, and briefs
  • Conduct outreach and training on the rights of workers with criminal records
  • Engage in policy advocacy at the legislative and administrative agency levels

Requirements:

  • Admission to the New York State Bar (or ability to waive into New York State from another jurisdiction)
  • Substantial knowledge of employment protections for workers with criminal records, including under the New York City and New York State Human Rights Laws
  • Ability to maintain a substantial caseload of challenging, varied, and complex cases
  • Prior experience representing clients in employment-related criminal record discrimination matters is preferred

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