Supervising Attorney, Consumer Bankruptcy

Supervising Attorney, Consumer Bankruptcy and Education Debt Practice

Department: City Bar Justice Center

Position Reports To: Project Director

Location: NYC (Hybrid)

FLSA Status: Exempt

About the City Bar Justice Center

The City Bar Justice Center seeks an attorney committed to equal access to justice to join our team as a full-time Supervising Attorney for our consumer bankruptcy and education debt practice. The Justice Center provides high-quality, free civil legal services benefiting over 27,000 New Yorkers each year who lack resources to hire private counsel. We rely on expansive pro bono partnerships and work closely with various stakeholders to support our civil legal services projects.

Role Overview

The Consumer Bankruptcy and Education Debt Practice advises individuals burdened with debt on available rights and remedies under bankruptcy and consumer laws. This role involves offering financial literacy education, training, and mentoring pro bono attorneys. This position is a critical part of our work assisting federal and private student loan borrowers and will enhance our capacity to meet the consumer debt, consumer finance, and economic stability needs of our client communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Assume primary practice responsibility for clients preparing and filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions pro se, occasionally advising on Chapter 13 relief, and providing counseling to student loan borrowers.
• Design, coordinate, and supervise monthly bankruptcy clinics with pro bono attorneys, including training, mentorship, and supervision.
• Oversee the bankruptcy pro bono panel, including case intake, outreach to panel members, and collaboration on contested matters.
• Stay current on relevant laws, regulations, industry topics, and best practices.
• Collaborate with the Project Director on community outreach and referrals, and take primary oversight responsibility for creating and conducting monthly webinars on consumer bankruptcy, student loan debt, and consumer finance options.
• Participate in practice sector committees and coalitions, and annually update or produce at least one new pro se guide.
• Provide primary supervision, with the Project Director’s support, of the project coordinator, interns, law students, or pro bono volunteers.
• Ensure accurate data entry and succinct notes in the case management system, assist with data collection, analysis, and grant reporting, and help assure service quality.
• Take a supportive leadership role in assessing and communicating the impact of our work.
• Provide other professional legal and administrative support, including coordinating meetings, trainings, and events; coordinating referrals for clients needing other services; and performing other duties as requested.

Experience, Skills & Requirements

• Attorneys in good standing licensed to practice law in New York, with admission (or readiness for admission) to the Eastern and/or Southern U.S. District Courts in New York.
• At least four years of relevant practice experience, preferably in bankruptcy, student loan, or consumer debt advocacy, or similarly aligned nonprofit legal services experience.
• Ideally, at least two years of experience supervising others’ legal work.
• Detail-oriented self-starter with superb legal judgment, capacity to multi-task, creativity, thoughtfulness, and tech savviness.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice and serving underserved populations.
• Excellent writing, editing, oral communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage a high-volume caseload and work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent people and client counseling skills, including respectful and sensitive interaction with diverse clients.
• Collegiality and ability to work collaboratively with staff, pro bono attorneys, funding partners, and other stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and legal database platforms; ability to learn and use ECF, PACER, and specialized bankruptcy software.
• Professional fluency in Spanish or another language is preferred but not required.
• Authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not provided.

Work Arrangement

This is a hybrid position requiring 2-3 in-person workdays at our midtown Manhattan offices, with the balance of time work-from-home. Occasional local travel for clinics, trainings, or court is expected, along with additional in-person commitments for team-building, training, or specific business activities approximately four to six times annually.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting annualized salary is in the $85,000-$110,000 range, depending on experience and qualifications. The City Bar offers a competitive benefits package, including generous paid time off, choice of medical plans, dental, vision, 401(k) with employer match, life insurance, commuter benefits, Employee Assistance Program, disability insurance, free New York City Bar Association membership and CLE programs, and employee discounts.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and, ideally, a cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications. Finalists will be asked to submit three professional business references.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. The City Bar is committed to equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics.

Key skills/competency

• Supervising Attorney
• Consumer Bankruptcy
• Education Debt
• Chapter 7 Petitions
• Pro Se Assistance
• Student Loan Counseling
• Legal Clinics
• Pro Bono Supervision
• Legal Aid
• New York Law