Staff Attorney

About Project Guardianship 

Project Guardianship (PG) is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization that provides guardianship services for older adults and people with disabilities in New York who have been determined by a judicial proceeding to need help making decisions and have no family or friends able to assist them.  PG’s team approach employs attorneys, case managers, and finance associates to provide clients with services that allow them to be as independent and in the least restrictive setting as possible.  Since 2005, PG has served hundreds of New Yorkers and has become a leading voice in a national, interdisciplinary effort to re-envision and strengthen guardianship policy. 

Position

Project Guardianship seeks a smart, flexible, and enthusiastic Staff Attorney to join PG's legal team. Our staff attorneys are the primary legal resource for the Guardianship Services team, providing legal counsel, working in close collaboration with case managers and client finance experts to address guardianship clients' legal needs, and participating in case planning to ensure the agency is meeting our duties and directives as legal guardian. Attorneys who are passionate about elder and disability health, public benefits, or the public interest, and especially attorneys versed in general guardianship law are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Responsibilities 

• Overseeing legal compliance for multidisciplinary team serving up to 50 clients 

• Consulting with and guiding case managers, finance associates, and other staff as necessary to address issues facing clients 

• Drafting motions and other court papers 

• Appearing in court and administrative tribunals for conferences, hearings, and other proceedings 

• Representing clients and/or the agency in guardianship and collateral proceedings 

• Identifying clients’ legal issues as they arise and addressing them accordingly 

• Preparing affirmations detailing services provided to clients 

• Entering relevant case-related information and tracking case progress in client database 

• Assisting with preparation of court-mandated and funder-mandated reporting 

• Identifying legal and other issues relevant to guardianship and the populations we serve and strategizing with the Project team to address them 

• Representing the Project at relevant conferences, trainings, and meetings to improve guardianship practices 

• Assisting with special projects as required 

Qualifications

• J.D. with New York State Bar admission or pending admission 

• Strong interest in social justice for underserved populations 

• Experience working with aging adults and/or people living with disabilities desirable 

• Litigation experience is a plus 

• Ability to work with a diverse population 

• Strong written and oral communication skills 

• Creativity, flexibility, patience, and good sense of humor 

• Excellent organizational skills 

• Ability to work in a team environment 

• Must be willing to travel city-wide for appearances and hearings 

• Final candidates will be subject to criminal background check 

Compensation

• Starting salary is $65,000 - $80,000 annually, commensurate with experience 

• Full benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement plan with employer match, long- and short-term disability, life insurance, and generous paid time-off policies

Project Guardianship is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Project Guardianship works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.