Staff Attorney

POSITION SUMMARY

The New York City Bar Association is seeking a dedicated Staff Attorney for its Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project (FedPro-SDNY). This role focuses on expanding access to justice by providing high-quality, limited-scope legal assistance to pro se litigants in civil cases within the S.D.N.Y., covering areas such as employment discrimination and civil/prisoner rights. The Staff Attorney will work as part of a dynamic team, engaging with litigants virtually and in-person, supervising volunteers, and supporting project operations.

ABOUT THE CITY BAR JUSTICE CENTER

The City Bar Justice Center (CBJC) is committed to addressing the unmet civil legal needs of New Yorkers facing poverty and systemic socioeconomic barriers. CBJC mobilizes pro bono legal services from law firms, corporate legal departments, and other legal institutions, providing free civil legal services to over 27,000 individuals annually. The organization also educates the public, fosters community relationships, and influences public policy.

PROGRAM FUNCTION: FEDPRO-SDNY

The Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project (FedPro-SDNY) is an innovative initiative offering free, limited-scope legal assistance to pro se plaintiffs and defendants, including incarcerated individuals, litigating civil cases in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). The project assists with various stages of federal litigation, from complaint service to trial, benefiting over 1,000 individuals each year in areas like employment discrimination (Title VII, ADA, ADEA), civil rights, and prisoner rights.

JOB FUNCTION: STAFF ATTORNEY

As a Staff Attorney, you will be integral to the FedPro-SDNY team, delivering essential legal services. Your responsibilities include:

• Serving as part of a team, including volunteer attorneys and law student interns, to provide high-quality legal services to pro se litigants.
• Offering information and brief advice on federal law, court procedure, and judges’ rules.
• Providing brief advice on case strategy, discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.
• Explaining court orders and rulings, and assisting with mediation and settlement practices.
• Reviewing, drafting, and/or editing pro se discovery and motion practice documents (note: direct court representation is limited, primarily for settlement purposes).
• Meeting with litigants via virtual or in-person consultations at the FedPro-SDNY courthouse office in downtown Manhattan, with occasional work at the White Plains courthouse.
• Collaborating with a social work support team for additional litigant services on a case-by-case basis.
• Staying updated on legal changes, Court rules, and procedures.
• Assisting in supervising pro bono volunteers and interns.
• Providing professional legal and administrative support to the FedPro-SDNY Director, including ensuring service quality, collecting case data, creating reports, and coordinating referrals.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a New York and S.D.N.Y. bar member in good standing with at least two years of federal litigation experience, including employment and civil rights, or high-volume client/clinical legal services experience.
• Excellent writing, editing, oral communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Detail-oriented self-starter with solid legal judgment and capacity to manage multiple cases and projects.
• Strong people and client counseling skills, with a sensitive and respectful approach to interacting with diverse members of the public, including those skeptical of institutions or experiencing mental health/cognitive challenges.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and ability to quickly learn LegalServer and other technology.

WORK ARRANGEMENT AND COMPENSATION

This is a hybrid position requiring 2-3 in-person workdays per week, primarily at FedPro-SDNY’s office in the SDNY Manhattan courthouse. The remaining time is split between work-from-home, work at CBJC’s main offices in midtown Manhattan for meetings, and occasional local travel. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. The annualized salary range is $75,000 to $95,000, depending on experience. The New York City Bar Association offers a competitive benefits package including generous paid time off, medical, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, commuter benefits, EAP, disability insurance, employee discounts, complimentary City Bar membership, and access to free CLE programs.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume and cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications. Finalists will be asked for three professional business references. The City Bar actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and ensures equal employment opportunity without discrimination based on protected characteristics.

Key skills/competency

• Federal Litigation
• Civil Rights Law
• Employment Law (Title VII, ADA, ADEA)
• Pro Bono Services
• Client Counseling
• Legal Research
• Court Procedure
• Motion Practice
• Document Drafting
• Case Management