Borough Attorney-in-Charge, Juvenile Rights Tri...

Closing Date: 18th March, 2025

Description:

Job Description:
The Juvenile Rights Practice is seeking an Attorney-in-Charge (AIC) with a deep commitment to children's rights and youth justice to lead a dedicated multidisciplinary team of managers, staff attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and an investigator of our Staten Island Trial Office. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of child welfare and youth justice within an interdisciplinary model of representation and an interest in creative approaches to management and staff development.

The AIC will be responsible for the overall administration of the office and oversight of all staff members. The AIC will be involved in all aspects of day-to-day operations and work closely with other legal, social work, paralegal, and office managers to train, supervise, and develop staff. The AIC will participate in Practice-wide and Society-wide management discussions and decision-making, as well as be responsible for maintaining relationships with external stakeholders in the legal, court and service communities.

The Attorney-in-Charge will be based at 60 Bay Street but requires travel throughout all New York City office sites.

The Chief Attorney of the practice is looking for an applicant that has a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary practice, extensive knowledge of family court, children's rights and juvenile law and policies. The candidate must have experience representing children, youth, and families who are involved in the child welfare, PINS and youth justice systems. Applicants should have demonstrated partnership with colleagues to support the Society's social justice mission and have a heightened understanding of racial and economic injustices that our clients and their families experience. The ideal candidate must appreciate the Society's core values while actively pursuing excellence through their contributions.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
Trial Office Leadership

• Provide legal and managerial leadership to the Juvenile Rights Staten Island Trial Office
• Monitor and maintain high standard of representation and client service 
• Respond to client, community and staff concerns 
• Evaluate office needs and identify necessary resources to address the needs 
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy and supervise its implementation 
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication 
• Reinforce and maintain staff accountability 
• Evaluate conflicting demands and prioritize workload 
• Represent JRP and Legal Aid in the community 

Team Development and Supervision

• Coach, develop and evaluate supervisory staff
• Develop skills and knowledge of staff members
• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed
• Identify, delegate, and document work responsibilities, roles, and procedures to meet the mission of the department
• Identify and implement department/unit management and accountability practices to improve performance
• Resolve employee conflict, complaints, and address union concerns, with guidance from Human Resources
• Lead organizational and culture change for the unit

Professional Development and other duties as assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:

• Law degree and admission to the bar of the state of New York
• Minimum of 10 years legal practice in child welfare and/or juvenile and youth justice
• Substantial litigation experience required
• Supervisory and management experience required

Preferred Qualifications:
Substantial litigation experience and knowledge of criminal defense and youth justice, preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to public interest practice
• Demonstrated Leadership ability
• Demonstrated commitment to exploring alternative structures for legal practice
• Pro Bono, government, public service, and academic experience relevant
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
• Excellent research, writing, and computer skills
• Demonstrated skills in advocacy, mediation, and interviewing
• Ability to work in and value a collaborative team model

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
• Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Significantly active and dynamic, significant time in court and community setting
• May be required travel within NYC, across the five-borough region
  

---