JOBS & INTERNSHIPS

Our civil legal services are centered around homelessness prevention partnerships with two social services agencies. VAP also has partnerships with community clinics, Vet Centers, veteran treatment courts, and others. These collaborations are instrumental in assisting clients as holistically as possible to address the root causes of legal issues. Our services provide access to health care and benefits, reduce contact with the justice system, keep veterans and their families in their homes, and empower veterans by removing barriers to success.

The director will coordinate staff advocacy, ensuring that civil legal services are integrated with the other practice areas of the organization. Management responsibilities include maintaining and growing partnerships, setting case priorities, supervising a small team (currently an intake advocate and two attorneys), actively shaping and advancing policy goals in line with the mission, identifying opportunities to create initiatives in response to community needs, participating in veterans events in communities across New York, testifying on behalf of the organization at various hearings, ensuring training for staff, participating in monthly meetings with Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) partners, supporting NYC Council relationships, and carrying a modified caseload (that includes full representation). We do not have any right-to-counsel/housing contracts with NYC. While the bulk of our general civil work focuses on housing stability, there is an opportunity to shape the future direction of the practice and expand into areas as the director sees fit. Candidates should have experience in housing court as well as general knowledge in the areas of consumer finance, government benefits, and/or child support. Knowledge of veterans benefits is a plus; a willingness to learn about VA systems is a must.

Individuals with military service, prior experience working with veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a small team representing veterans in civil legal matters; ensure staff training, day-to-day operations and workflow;
• Represent a reduced caseload of clients in housing court and administrative hearings;
• Conduct intake and/or trainings, and participate in special events at partner organizations’ sites;
• provide telephone and/or written advice to clients as needed;
• Research legal issues, with a focus on housing law and public benefits;
• Work with the team on case strategies and integration of services to meet clients’ needs;
• Identify and assist with funding opportunities to build out service capacity;
• Identify areas for systemic advocacy; develop policy goals in line with the needs of the communities VAP serves;
• Identify opportunities to develop new initiatives, including with pro bono attorneys;
• Track client information in our database and prepare reports for grants/funding sources;
• Perform administrative tasks related to the work.

Qualifications

• JD and current membership in good standing of the New York State Bar;
• Minimum 5 years of experience;
• Positive track record leading a team;
• Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative, make decisions, and follow through on ideas;
• Efficacy in organizing and prioritizing;
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal research; excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Efficient and meticulous attention to detail and deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services and working with people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury;
• Dedication to serving all clients, without regard to discharge status or justice-involvement.

COMPENSATION: Salary is commensurate with experience, with a range of $100,000 to $135,000; generous benefits package including health insurance with no employee contribution to premiums, dental/vision plans, 401K, life insurance, EAP, and discounts, etc.
There is also a signing bonus of $15,000.
LOCATION: VAP has a small office in downtown Manhattan but the team mostly works remotely. While the person in this role can work from home, this position does require being in court and regularly attending events across New York City.
TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume, and recent legal writing sample to hiring@veteranadvocacy.org with “Civil Practice” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Veteran Advocacy Project, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, immigration status, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, military status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record, unemployment status, predisposing genetic characteristics, survivor of domestic/intimate partner violence status, or marital or partnership status.

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We put hiring for this position on “pause” earlier in the year, but have happily re-posted!

The Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) seeks an attorney to lead our veterans law practice, supervising a small team and providing representation to veterans in appeals before the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VAP ensures access to health care, housing, and benefits for low-income veterans and their families, with a focus on those living with post-traumatic stress, brain injury, substance dependency, and other mental health conditions. Through advocacy, education, and free legal services, the team fights for clients’ rights to benefits, keeps families in their homes, and empowers veterans by removing barriers to recovery and success.

The ideal candidate is someone who has ideas for programmatic development, along with experience fundraising for and implementing initiatives. The attorney will work with other members of VAP to address the legal needs of low-income veterans in a holistic manner. VAP focuses on advocacy that enables veterans to access VA health care and benefits. The director will: supervise a very small but growing team; collaborate with partner organizations with a particular focus on our medical-legal partnerships in NYC; carry a modified case load, providing representation in VA character of discharge (COD) determinations, disability benefits appeals with a focus on mental health related claims, and any other claims, as needed and as the attorney chooses. The work will include outreach at partner sites, communication with social workers and case managers, reviewing staff work, and taking on appeals by gathering evidence, preparing briefs, and representing veterans in hearings. The attorney will also work with the team on systemic advocacy efforts and will collaborate with the executive director on fundraising to expand the practice.

Individuals with military service, prior experience working with veterans, people with disabilities, people of all gender identities, people from underrepresented communities, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

• Represent clients before the VA, and potentially in federal court; write COD and service-connected compensation appeals, along with various other VA claims;
• Supervise a small team;
• Screen veterans for relief, with exhaustive investigation of military history and medical records;
• Oversee assignments for law student’s working on investigations, claims, and briefs;
• Collaborate with forensic mental health professionals;
• Research legal issues, with a focus on military discharges and VA character eligibility;
• Provide telephone and/or written advice to clients;
• Provide thorough referrals to connect clients with other services; work with staff on case strategies and integration of services to meet clients’ needs;
• Work with the ED and staff to shape policy positions and the organization’s advocacy goals;
• Work with ED and Director of Finance on funding (reporting, new opportunities, etc.);
• Track client information in a database, attend meetings, perform administrative tasks related to the work.

Qualifications:

• Current member in good standing of a state bar (New York preferred);
• Accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs;
• Minimum five years’ experience in veterans law;
• Knowledge and practice in VA claims, including character of discharge applications and disability compensation appeals for PTSD and other mental health conditions;
• Experience in VA hearings at regional level and BVA;
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills;
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work well with people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, and traumatic brain injury;
• Ability to work independently with strong self-motivation, to meet deadlines, to be flexible, and to collaborate with and mentor junior staff;
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and veterans’ rights.

Compensation: Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, ranging from $96,000 – $135,000, along with a benefits package, including employer-paid healthcare premiums; other benefits include life insurance, EAP with discounts, health and savings account, commuter benefits, 401K, and more.

Location: VAP is a hybrid environment where staff work from home but conduct outreach and attend events in person. Proximity to the New York metropolitan area is strongly preferred to oversee and facilitate our many partnerships.

To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to hiring@veteranadvocacy.org and include “Director – VA” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; those without cover letters will not be considered. We read every application with care but regret that we are unable to respond to all inquiries and will contact only those candidates selected for further consideration.

Veteran Advocacy Project, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, immigration status, gender or gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, military status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record, unemployment status, predisposing genetic characteristics, survivor of domestic/intimate partner violence status, or marital or partnership status.

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VAP welcomes partnerships with law firms that would like to take on pro bono cases. There is a great need for family law services, representation in housing court, and assistance with military discharge upgrades. To learn more about volunteering with VAP please email us with “pro bono” in the subject line.

When servicemembers leave the military their discharge status determines what benefits, if any, they are eligible to receive. A bad discharge can be a barrier to employment, benefits, and health care. Worse, veterans with less than honorable discharges take their lives at two to three times the rate of other veterans. Many of our servicemembers are given less-than-honorable discharges due to misconduct connected to mis- or undiagnosed post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. From 2011-2015, of the servicemembers who were discharged for misconduct, 62 percent had already been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. With an Other Than Honorable discharge most vets will be turned away from the VA. We are not only punishing injury, we are cutting veterans off from the very care they need to heal.

VAP is fighting to get these veterans the resources they deserve. For firms who would like to take on cases, our hands-on approach includes a launch training, ongoing guidance, brief-editing, and we will coordinate moot hearings in preparation for any DRB appearances; we also have an online resource center with videos, sample applications, and more.

Firms and corporations from around the country have volunteered their time with DUC. See some of the firms that are giving and have given their time to VAP discharge cases.

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