Vacancies

The Free to Be Youth Project (FYP) seeks applicants for a Staff Attorney position.

FYP is a legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education project that focuses on the legal needs of homeless and street-involved lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) young people (up to age 24) in New York City. FYP works to interrupt the cycles of poverty and criminalization that prevent LGBTQ+ youth from living fulfilling, enriching lives. We advocate for LGBTQ+ young people living in poverty on a wide range of issues, including safe and affirming access to shelter, benefits, accurate identification documents, employment, and legal immigration status.

FYP is one of eight independent projects at the Urban Justice Center.

Staff attorneys provide legal representation to clients, engage in systemic advocacy, facilitate community education trainings, and supervise law student interns. Staff attorneys work as a team with the Project Director to ensure quality legal service provision, identify systemic priorities, and develop FYP’s capacity to take direction from the communities we serve. Staff attorneys may share fundraising duties, and will work with other program staff to identify funding opportunities. Staff attorneys also represent FYP to the media and the public.

Candidates must be attorneys who have practiced for at least two years in a relevant poverty law area, and are committed to an integrated approach to legal services and systemic advocacy, informed by clients’ experiences. Relevant areas of practice are: shelter access, landlord-tenant, immigration, child welfare, police misconduct, and public benefits practice. A demonstrated commitment to fighting for the rights for LGBTQ+ people living in poverty is mandatory. The ideal candidate would be familiar with the non-legal advocacy strategies and the social justice community in New York, and understand the unique needs of LGBTQ+ homeless youth. Applicants must be admitted to the New York Bar or eligible for immediate admission.

Salary and Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is between $72,000-75,000, depending on experience. An excellent benefits package is available, with generous vacation, personal, and sick time, with an additional paid week off between Christmas and New Year’s Day, a 401(k) match, and industry-leading medical and dental coverage. Subject to work needs, the FYP also offers flexible hours and remote work options.

Application Instructions

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and two references, via email to Project Director Amy Leipziger at aleipziger[at]urbanjustice.org with the subject line “FYP Staff Attorney.” Only applicants whom we wish to interview will be contacted.

This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW, Local 2320.

The Urban Justice Center serves New York City’s most vulnerable residents through a combination of direct legal service, systemic advocacy, community education and political organizing. Visit www.urbanjustice.org for more information about UJC and its work.

FYP, part of the Urban Justice Center, is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Persons of color, transgender, lesbian, bisexual and queer people, persons with disabilities, persons who have lived in poverty, immigrants, persons with criminal legal contact and people fluent in more than one language are strongly encouraged to apply