Children’s Rights Attorney

CLC seeks an attorney who will be part of the Writing and Appeals team with an additional focus on advancing children’s rights including economic, educational, and access rights, through appellate work, litigation, and policy analysis.

Under the supervision of the Director of Appeals, Writing and Paralegal Support, the Children’s Rights/Writing Attorney will help shape children’s rights law through preparing motions, affirmations, summations, and other trial level documents to be submitted in the Family Courts and IDV Parts of the Supreme Court, as well as appellate briefs and motions in the First and Second Departments of the Appellate Division. In addition, the attorney will appear for arguments and conferences in the Appellate Divisions and, when necessary, in Family and/or Supreme Court. The attorney will engage with other legal service and pro bono attorneys to promote children’s rights through preparing trial level motions, appeals, and affirmative litigation.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Prepare motions, affirmations, summations, appellate briefs, and other litigation documents, independently and in collaboration with pro bono lawyers.
• Conduct extensive legal research and reviews of files and records to produce persuasive legal documents.
• Work collaboratively with in-house trial attorneys, social workers, and paralegals as well as pro bono counsel in preparing legal documents and identifying legal issues.
• Appear for oral argument in the Appellate Divisions for the First and Second Departments and court appearances at both trial and appellate levels.
• Subpoena or otherwise obtain all necessary documentation to prepare cases.
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and facilitate its implementation.
• Collaborate with other CLC teams to best represent CLC clients.
• Regularly and appropriately respond to court, client, community, and staff concerns, and maintain professional and ethical standards at all times.

Key Qualifications and Competencies

• Excellent legal writing and research skills—ability to write clear, concise fact statements and legal arguments. 
• Ability to synthesize a large volume of material, to address complex issues, and to pay attention to both big picture themes and details.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Excellent oral advocacy skills.
• Admitted to practice law in New York State.
• Demonstrated skills in advocacy, cultural competence, mediation, and interviewing.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest and policy.
• Knowledge of New York family law.
• Superb interpersonal skills, effective communication skills, time management, and organizational skills.
• Curiosity and eagerness to continue learning new skills, grow professionally, and take on new challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise complete discretion when working with confidential and sensitive information.
• History of working with pro bono providers a plus.
• Desire to work in a busy organization that represents children.