Juvenile Rights Practice Staff Attorney – Entry Level Fall 2027
About the role
The Legal Aid Society's Juvenile Rights Practice (JRP) is seeking to hire entry-level Staff Attorney and/or Law Graduates eligible to practice pursuant to the Legal Aid Society practice order, to fill openings in several of its trial offices. JRP provides legal representation to children and youth who are before New York City Family Courts on child welfare, PINS (Persons-in-Need-of-Supervision), youth justice, public defense, and termination of parental rights petitions. JRP attorneys practice on interdisciplinary teams with social workers, paralegals, and investigators.
Responsibilities
- Represent clients in Family Court litigation, including fact-finding, dispositional and post-dispositional hearings
- Conduct direct client representation and institutional assignments including intake and case coverage
- Conduct out-of-court case preparation including interviewing, investigation, document review, and witness preparation
- Draft motions, orders, bills/demands, and other documents
- Counsel and interview clients
- Consult and advocate with service providers
- Identify issues and resources
- Collaborate with colleagues across Juvenile Rights, Civil, and Criminal practice areas
- Seek compliance with court orders, regulatory requirements, and agency policies
- Ensure that the child has a voice in all decisions made about their life
- Engage in ongoing professional development and training
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Admission to the New York State Bar or Bar Exam Passage, or Law School Graduate eligible to practice pursuant to the Legal Aid Society practice order
- 1-3 years legal advocacy and/or litigation experience preferred, not required
- Relevant clinical program or work experience preferred
- Commitment to children's issues and youth justice
- Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and serving racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities
- Ability to work effectively with children, adolescents, and their family members
- Strong written and oral advocacy skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in a high-volume practice
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.
Pay
Salary Range: $86,520 - $157,075
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Paid vacation
- Disability and life insurance
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility (The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer)
- New York State loan forgiveness programs for eligible New York residents
Work authorization
All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (For citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)
How to apply
All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: Cover Letter, Resume, Transcript, Writing Sample. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org. The deadline to apply is October 14, 2026. Applications are reviewed and offers are made on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Interviews will be scheduled throughout the fall, and if you are selected for an interview, you will receive an email notification during this season. The application process includes: On Campus Interview (OCI) if applicable serving as a screening, two rounds of interviews, and reference checks.
This response is AI-generated, for reference only.