THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Community Justice Connect, operated by the Center for Justice Innovation, is a network of storefront centers that provide free legal information, assistance, and referrals to people with civil legal problems. The program seeks to solve issues in areas like housing, public benefits, employment, family law, and immigration before they become emergencies that must be litigated in court. Currently, Community Justice Connect operates in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. In addition to community justice workers (non-lawyers) providing direct service assistance, the program trains community volunteers to provide assistance to their neighbors. 

The Community Justice Connect program is seeking an Attorney-in-Charge. Reporting to the Director of Civil Access to Justice Initiatives, the Attorney-in-Charge oversees development and execution of the program model, supervision of Program Managers, and implementation of programmatic initiatives. The Attorney-in-Charge is responsible for coordinating high-quality, consistent practices across the program, including supporting program staff with daily operations of the program, and collaborating with a range of civil justice partners, community leaders, social service providers, and city and state government stakeholders. The Attorney-in-Charge ensures that the legal information provided by the team is accurate and up-to-date, and also offers limited instances of brief legal advice for visitors. They must stay abreast of developments in a wide set of civil legal fields and maintain systems for regular training and sharing updates in real time.

Legal Expertise:

• Provide legal expertise to the Community Justice Connect project, offering support and guidance to volunteers and staff; 
• Oversee civil legal training for program volunteers and staff, including the development and implementation of accessible, educational resources and programming;
• Act as the primary point of contact for Connect staff and volunteers on legal matters that arise from visitor issues. The candidate must have extensive knowledge of civil areas of law which affect low-income residents, including Housing Law, Government Benefits, Consumer Debt, Immigration, and/or Family Law; and
• Provide brief legal advice to visitors regarding civil areas of law, including but not limited to: eviction proceedings, government benefits termination proceedings, such as fair hearings of Article 78 proceedings, child support and/or custody proceedings, etc.  

Vision and Strategic Program Development

• Collaborate with Housing Justice Initiatives: Work closely with the broader Housing Justice Initiatives Department to develop and implement housing strategies that align with the broader mission of increasing community-based access to justice;
• Facilitate conversations with program staff to identify, sustain, and explore new funding sources, and to develop and coordinate new initiatives; 
• Ensure all program sites are meeting or exceeding program goals; 
• Work in collaboration with leadership on strategic planning and implementation of new programming; 
• Oversee the day-to-day budget by establishing quarterly and yearly budget goals; 
• Develop and maintain relationships with funders, government officials, as well as community stakeholders and program leadership across the Center; and  
• Develop and maintain program-wide marketing strategy, including social media, in collaboration with the CJI Communications team. 

Policy and Protocol Implementation:

• Ensure program staff are providing the highest quality of service to program participants across sites; 
• Oversee program performance initiatives, including coordination of program research, planning, and reporting activities with DAAR team; 
• Assist the Center’s Development team in grant management and writing, including monthly and quarterly reporting to funders and opportunities for new initiatives; and
• Develop procedures and protocols to track and meet program deliverables.

Operations and Personnel Management:

• Directly supervise Program Managers across Connect sites in Jamaica, Brooklyn, and the South Bronx, NY; 
• Support Program Managers with operational responsibilities, including direct supervision of Program Associates and volunteers;   
• Oversee the quality of program data and materials, refining and improving workflow and case processing when necessary;  
• Work with stakeholders to ensure program operations run smoothly; and
• Devise and implement strategies for improving program-wide cohesiveness and interdepartmental communication. 

Other Duties:

• Undertake any other duties assigned by the organization’s leadership, contributing to the overall success and growth of Community Justice Connect; 
• Assist other Center administrative and leadership responsibilities as needed; and  
• Other relevant tasks, as necessary.  

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active membership in the New York State Bar with 5 years of experience in a legal services position with some supervisory experience;
• Expertise in Housing Law and either comprehensive or good working knowledge of Family Law, Consumer Debt, Government Benefits, and Immigration;
• Strong leadership and managerial skills;  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment;  
• Demonstrate excellent written, communication, and organizational skills; and  
• Commitment to social justice and community empowerment. 

Position Type: Full-time, evening and weekend hours required.

Position Location: Required travel across Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens offices.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $90,000 - $135,000 and is commensurate with experience. 

Benefits: The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.