Center for Justice Innovation

Attorney-in-Charge, Community Justice Connect

Community Justice Connect - New York, NY - Full Time

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.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

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.

Apply: Attorney-in-Charge, Community Justice Connect
* Required fields
First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Location *
Phone number*
Resume*

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or paste resume

Paste your resume here or attach resume file

Cover Letter*
What’s your citizenship / employment eligibility?*
What’s your highest level of education completed?*
Are you 18 years of age or older?*
Please indicate your current or past affiliation with the Center for Justice Innovation (select all that apply):*
How did you hear about this job?*
I certify that the information provided in this application, including my resume and any supporting documents, is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration or, if discovered after hiring, termination of employment.

By entering my initials below, I acknowledge and agree to the above statement.*
The following questions are entirely optional.
To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status
I IDENTIFY AS ONE OR MORE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTECTED VETERAN LISTED ABOVE
I AM NOT A PROTECTED VETERAN
I DON’T WISH TO ANSWER
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 07/31/2029
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:
YES, I HAVE A DISABILITY, OR HAVE HAD ONE IN THE PAST
NO, I DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY AND HAVE NOT HAD ONE IN THE PAST
I DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Name Date
Human Check*