LawNY seeks to fill an immediate opening for a Director of Pro Bono Affairs. The Director will take the leadership role in overseeing and enhancing LawNY’s Pro Bono and Volunteer Programs. This will include developing a vision and overall plan for LawNY’s pro bono initiatives, as well as ensuring compliance with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) private attorney involvement regulations. The position will also involve managing other pro bono-related grants.
The Director will work closely with LawNY’s Executive Director, as well as the Management Team, to supervise a regional pro bono staff team. The position will involve implementation and coordination of pro bono opportunities, volunteer recruitment efforts, clinics, internal case referrals, and other pro bono projects. The Director will be LawNY’s liaison with national, state, regional, and local pro bono committees, task forces, and initiatives. The position involves fostering and maintaining positive relationships with judges, court personnel, attorneys, bar associations, law schools, universities, and law students and other volunteers. This position is program wide and will collaborate with all of the LawNY offices. The position can be located in any of the LawNY offices.
RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.
Work with the Executive Director and Management Team to develop a short-term and long-term strategic plan for pro bono that aligns with the broader strategic goals and mission of the organization;
Create a departmental budget and staffing plan;
Write policies and create procedures for pro bono efforts that are consistent with the goals and policies of LawNY;
Design and implement various pro bono projects from idea formation through implementation that incorporate private attorneys and volunteers into the execution of LawNY’s mission;
Ensure compliance with grant requirements related to pro bono projects;
Supervise a team across multiple offices to accomplish the goals of the Pro Bono Department;
Conduct outreach to law firms, other legal services providers, bar associations, law schools, and non-profits in the community for the purpose of promoting pro bono involvement;
Serve as LawNY’s primary contact for private attorneys and volunteers;
Consult with internal LawNY stakeholders on the training and supervision of volunteers across multiple pro bono projects;
Oversee volunteer recruitment, retention and appreciation efforts;
Coordinate pro bono activities across all of the LawNY offices;
Attend and participate in national conferences and local roundtables related to pro bono management.
ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities. Research shows that women and people from under-represented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the desired competencies. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet all the desired competencies.
An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and their impact on the communities we serve.
Professional or lived experience partnering with and advocating in low-wealth communities and communities of color.
Ability to foster internal and external collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders;
Strong analytical skills and critical thinking abilities, including capacity to quickly master and manage multiple complex projects;
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of LawNY.
True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
COMPENSATION
Salary is dependent on years of experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The beginning salary for a Director of Pro Bono Affairs with five years of experience is $77,500, and the salary for a Director with ten years of experience is $84,400. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the public interest loan forgiveness program.
LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including 94% employer paid health insurance (for single or family) with significant HSA contributions, 100% employer paid dental (single or family) and disability insurance, vision coverage, and $50,000 automatic life insurance as well as generous leave provisions including, in the first year of employment, 20 days of vacation plus 13.5 holidays and two floating holidays. Employees also receive 12 sick days and five personal days per year. New parents receive 20 days of paid new parent leave.
LawNY® is committed to providing a work-life balance to their employees. We encourage and support a 35 hour work week to ensure our employees have this balance. We also offer a remote work policy where new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week during their 6 month probationary period with manager approval, as their work load permits. This increases to 5 days per week once successfully finished with a probationary period with manager approval, as their workload permits.
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester.
LawNY® is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We are increasingly committed to creating a law firm where race equity, diversity and cultural competency are integral components of our work, from client advocacy to internal operations.
QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.
Licensed to practice law in New York State or eligible on motion preferred. LawNY may consider non-attorney applicants or individuals pending admission, however, applicants must have extensive direct experience managing and coordinating pro bono activities.
At least 5 years of experience working in the legal profession;
Demonstrated commitment to helping poor and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to legal services;
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of volunteer development, recruitment, compliance, and best practices;
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and writing skills;
Willingness to travel throughout LawNY’s service area;
Ability to represent LawNY at external meetings and conferences;
Experience with data and database management and use of Google Suite and Microsoft Suite;
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three professional references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform found here. When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and describe unpaid volunteer/internships as such.
To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think your lived and/or professional experience or background has prepared you to contribute to support a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at LawNY® and in our fair housing work.
Questions or Accommodations? Contact Michelle Grillone at [email protected]
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer. LawNY® strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups whose background may contribute to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. LawNY® welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other consideration protected by law.
This position is considered Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
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