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About the Role

Lead the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP), advising, representing, and advocating for student loan and education debt borrowers. Provide advice and legal representation to clients and supervise the Student Loan Paralegal.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage the student loan and education debt assistance program, ensuring compliance with program policies, procedures, and grant requirements.
• Serve as student loan and education debt subject matter expert, developing an in-depth knowledge of the law.
• Provide advice and counsel to student loan borrowers.
• Help student loan borrowers apply for relief through cancellation, forgiveness, or discharge programs.
• Represent student debt borrowers in court and administrative proceedings at all stages of litigation.
• Lead and participate in student loan and education debt coalitions.
• Provide legal education and substantive law training on education debt/student loan-related legal issues to the New York State legal community.
• Provide comprehensive technical assistance to other attorneys, advocates, and grantees on complex cases and questions.
• Undertake legislative and policy advocacy aimed at improving access to justice for those with student loans/education debt.
• Conduct outreach and engage in publicity to increase awareness of the EDCAP program.
• Identify systemic issues for advocacy and opportunities for pursuing impact litigation.
• Supervise the Student Loan Paralegal, any future student loan/education debt program employees, and other practice group members as needed.
• Participate in the leadership of Empire Justice Center as a member of the management team.
• Demonstrate a high level of comfort and commitment to working with people from marginalized communities.
• Work closely with your assigned supervisor and participate in regular supervision meetings.
• Supervise other practice group members if needed.
• Perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs.

Requirements

• Travel to and work in the Albany or Rochester Telesca Center office is required as needed.
• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited US law school or international equivalent.
• Admission to the New York State Bar and in good standing.
• Minimum of 3 to 8 years of experience as an attorney.
• Supervisory or management experience is required.
• Excellent advocacy, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to mentor, supervise, and train legal staff through video conferencing/communication and travel when necessary.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Litigation experience and/or experience in litigating in administrative hearings.
• Knowledge of student loan work.
• Ability to provide legal advice to clients who do not speak English via an interpreter.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint).
• Ability to learn and adapt to other applications quickly.
• Must demonstrate strong analytical skills.
• Ability to shift priorities while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing objectives.
• Effective decision-making skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate partnerships.
• Experience in working with diverse clientele, including those who have experienced poverty.
• Commitment to improving the lives and circumstances of those who have experienced poverty and discrimination.
• Proficiency utilizing Adobe and other document management systems.
• Ability to schedule appointments, manage calendars, documents, and collaborative workflows.

Skills

• Student loan and education debt expertise
• Legal research and written advocacy
• Microsoft 365 proficiency
• Adobe and document management systems proficiency
• Analytical skills
• Decision-making skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills

Location

• Albany, NY
• Rochester, NY

Work Type

• Hybrid
• Full-time

Experience Level

• 3-8 years of experience as an attorney
• Supervisory or management experience

Education Level

• Juris Doctorate Degree
• Admission to the New York State Bar

Salary/Compensations

• $91,659-$94,329 (Supervising Staff Attorney, 3-6 years experience)
• $104,700-$111,000 (Supervising Senior Attorney, 7-8 years experience)

Benefits

• Flexible 35-hour full-time work week
• Loan Repayment Assistance
• Comprehensive health insurance plan for employee and family
• 13 paid holidays
• Office closure between Christmas Day and New Year's Day
• Generous vacation, sick, and personal time
• Group term life insurance
• 403(b) with employer contributions (eligible after 12 months)
• $2,000 bilingual salary enhancement for qualifying employees

About the Company

• Empire Justice Center is a diverse, highly respected statewide legal services organization that fights for marginalized low-income individuals and families across New York.
• We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, legislative advocacy, and training the next generation of advocates.
• Our team is passionate, determined, and committed to justice for communities facing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, domestic violence, disability discrimination, and civil rights violations in schools.

Equal Opportunity

• Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly desires a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Empire Justice Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants.
• It prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, specifically - race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, genetics, neurodiversity, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
• Empire Justice Center is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.
• As part of this commitment, Empire Justice Center ensures that persons with disabilities and/or communication barriers have reasonable accommodations.