The Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) seeks an attorney to lead our civil legal services, both overseeing and taking on housing and benefits cases, and working with the executive director to build out the practice.

VAP provides free legal services to low-income veterans and their families, with a focus on those living with Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and substance use issues. We are partnered with VA hospitals, health clinics, and local veterans’ groups to reach veterans where they are. While our attorneys tackle the legal challenges, our advocates ensure that our clients are connected to appropriate social services. With a dedicated team, VAP enables veterans to regain their health and rebuild their lives.

We recently spun off from the Urban Justice Center to become an independent not-for-profit and this position presents the opportunity to influence the future of the organization. While the current team is small, we are growing: we have launched a new criminal defense practice, providing mitigation expertise and representation on capital cases around the country, and we are expanding our justice-involved services, addressing problems that arise at the intersection of civil, criminal, and veterans law issues. Our homelessness prevention partnerships with social services agencies and our medical-legal partnerships are instrumental in our veterans law work. The common thread throughout our advocacy is that we fight for individuals who are living with mental health challenges. Our services provide access to health care and benefits, prevent incarceration and reduce recidivism, keep veterans and their families in their homes, and empower veterans by removing barriers to success.

The supervising attorney will coordinate staff advocacy to facilitate holistic services for clients, ensuring that civil legal services are integrated with the other practice areas of the organization, working on issues tied to military service and VA claims. Management responsibilities will include setting case priorities, overseeing junior attorney and advocates’ caseloads, helping to shape the agency’s policy goals, ensuring training and professional development for staff, providing quarterly case reports for Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) grants, and carrying a modified caseload. (We do not have any city-funded housing contracts that require minimum case counts, screening for zip codes, etc.) Candidates should have experience in housing court as well as general knowledge in the areas of consumer finance, child support, and government benefits.

Individuals with military service, prior experience working with veterans, those who are differently-abled, women, and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Supervise a small team representing veterans in civil legal matters; ensure staff training, professional development, day-to-day operations and workflow; provide feedback and guidance on legal strategy and case management;
Represent a reduced caseload of clients in housing court and administrative hearings;
Conduct intake, training, and special events at partner organizations’ sites;
Provide telephone and/or written advice to clients as needed;
Research legal issues, with a focus on housing law and public benefits;
Work with the team on case strategies and integration of services to meet clients’ needs;
Track client information in our database, prepare reports for grants/funding sources, attend team meetings, as well as strategic meetings with the executive director, perform administrative tasks related to the work.
Qualifications

JD and current membership in good standing of the New York State Bar;
Minimum 4 years of experience in legal services;
Positive track record leading a team; confidence in managing a collaborative effort and ensuring team members are heard;
Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative; efficacy in organizing and prioritizing;
Demonstrated proficiency in legal research; excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
Efficient and meticulous attention to detail and deadlines;
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services; ability to work with people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury;
Dedication to serving all clients, without regard to discharge status or criminal justice involvement.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, with generous benefits package.

Veteran Advocacy Project, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, immigration status, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, military status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record, unemployment status, predisposing genetic characteristics, survivor of domestic/intimate partner violence status, or marital or partnership status.