Domestic Relations Staff Attorney - Plattsburgh Office

Ready to Make a Difference?

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking a Domestic Relations Staff Attorney. Our service area spans sixteen counties in Upstate New York across six regional offices. This position is based out of our Plattsburgh office. For more information about our work, our staff, and our clients, visit www.lasnny.org.

We are a unionized program with excellent benefits, offering generous time off, excellent health insurance coverage with premiums primarily paid by LASNNY, health and long-term disability insurance, retirement contributions, tuition reimbursement, qualifying moving expenses, and flexible hybrid-remote and alternative work schedules.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be licensed to practice in NYS or be eligible for admission.


• Demonstrated commitment to providing high quality legal services to low-income clients and in addressing systemic inequities in the education system.


• Must be able to identify and address systemic legal problems and work collaboratively with other LASNNY staff to ensure delivery of a full range of legal services to clients served by the Albany office.


• Must be intelligent, hardworking, careful, reliable, have good judgment, and attention to detail.


• Must be able to communicate effectively with clients, staff and educators and work independently and efficiently.


• Proficient computer skills


• Reliable transportation. Occasional travel may be required.


• Strong preference for lived experience.


• Prior experience with community lawyering or community organizing. (preferred)


• Ability to communicate in Chines or Spanish. (preferred)


• Demonstrated creativity and experience in using varied legal tools and strategies to secure systemic outcomes on behalf of low-income clients (preferred).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide legal assistance to eligible clients within the Family and Supreme Courts in Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties in the area of Domestic Relations Law.


• Work collaboratively with government and nonprofit agencies that provide supportive services for litigants in Family and Supreme Courts.


• Provide legal assistance in domestic relations proceedings in Family and Supreme Courts. Legal assistance will include custody, visitation, abuse/neglect, child/spousal support, matrimonial, and family offense proceedings.


• Provide a full range of legal services, including counsel and advice, referrals, representation in administrative hearings, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach and engagement, and community lawyering.


• Requirements and compliance therewith and work collaboratively with other LASNNY domestic relations attorneys/paralegals to maximize access to LASNNY services and address systemic issues that arise from proceedings in Family and Supreme Courts.


• The attorneys will also participate in the development and implementation of LASNNY's race equity priority and their professional development plan.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional law office environment and occasionally may require the carrying of regular office supplies. This role requires the use of standard office equipment and software and remote videoconferencing platforms. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

At LASNNY we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state or local laws. In furtherance of our culture, we strongly encourage applications from women, BIPOC, LGBTQI+ persons, protected veterans, applicants and recipients of public assistance, older adults, and people with disabilities.

If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at LASNNY and we will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.