Staff Attorney — Disability Rights

Title: Staff Attorney

Reports to: Director of Litigation and Advocacy

Exempt Salary: $82,824 – $92,004 based on years of experience

Location: NCLEJ’s office is located in New York City, but fully remote work is possible for this position.   

NCLEJ’s Mission and Work:

NCLEJ advances racial and economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities across the country, using groundbreaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. NCLEJ works to build systems that provide economic security and full participation in society to all. Our current advocacy focuses on: (1) safeguarding access to government benefits; (2) advancing the rights of lower wage workers; (3) combating abusive debt collection and wealth extraction; and (4) advocating for disability rights and disability justice. We litigate extensively in federal and state courts across the country, typically as lead counsel in class actions, and we partner with grassroots and community-based organizations, other legal organizations, and the private bar.   

Staff Attorney’s Role:

The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) seeks to hire an attorney with a strong commitment to racial, disability, and social justice and 4-7 years’ experience to engage in impact litigation and advocacy on an expanding range of civil rights and economic justice issues. While all NCLEJ attorneys have opportunities to work across practice areas, this position will have a disability rights and disability justice focus, including: (1) working on NCLEJ’s robust docket of litigation designed to ensure that the social safety net is fully accessible; and (2) conducting outreach to disability rights advocates and activists across the country who previously have had limited access to systemic change lawyers.

Qualifications and Experience of the Ideal Candidate: 

• 4-7 years’ hands-on experience with major impact litigation, including developing cases, drafting complaints and briefs, developing relationships with potential plaintiffs and witnesses, all phases of the discovery process, settlement negotiations, evidentiary hearings, trials and appeals.
• Significant experience with non-litigation advocacy such as policy advocacy, communications, support of grassroots organizing and/or coalition work, preferably in a disability rights or disability justice context.
• Relationships with members and leaders of the disability community.
• An understanding of challenges experienced by individuals with disabilities who are experiencing poverty, including but not limited to substantive knowledge of Medicaid, SSI, and/or SSDI.
• Ability to understand and navigate issues of identity, power and privilege with clients, partners, and colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients from a great diversity of backgrounds.
• Commitment to racial and social justice and NCLEJ’s mission.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong project and time manager with a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• J.D. degree, admission to the Bar of at least one state, and ability to get admitted in NY.

Benefits: NCLEJ has a generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance; 15-24 vacation days and 10-15 sick days per year (based on length of service); 13 paid holidays per year; an FSA plan for medical, childcare, and transit expenses; an Employee Assistance Program; and employer contributions to individuals’ 403(b) plans. 

Vaccination Requirement: To help ensure that NCLEJ continues to operate in the safest manner possible, NCLEJ requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for medical and/or religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be considered on an individual basis, to the extent required by law.

Equal opportunity: NCLEJ is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and people from other historically disenfranchised communities to apply. NCLEJ does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital or parental status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. NCLEJ makes every effort to ensure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified individuals, including individuals with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions. 

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and qualifications for the role.

Application process: Please submit a resume and cover letter via this link: https://ideali.st/vXhnPb  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NCLEJ is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying, please contact Michelle Peeples at peeples@nclej.org or 212-633-6967. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.