Job Description

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK

Law Clerk Opportunities Fall 2025

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY) provides effective, free civil legal services and education to and advocacy for people with low income or other barriers to accessing the legal system. We secure basic needs, protect and preserve legal rights, provide equal access to justice, and seek fairness and dignity for all our clients. We have offices in Albany, Amsterdam, Canton, Gloversville, Plattsburgh, and Saratoga Springs to serve low and moderate-income residents of Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington Counties and the St. Regis Reservation.

HIRING CRITERIA:

Commitment to providing legal services to the poor. Excellent research and writing skills. Ability to work well under stress and time pressure. Prior relevant experience in legal services to the poor, especially law school clinical experience, and the ability to speak Spanish is a plus. Law clerks will be paid $22 per hour. All work performed with Legal Aid will count towards the 50-hour pro bono requirement for admission to the New York State Bar. Law clerks must be willing to commit to a minimum of 10 hours per week. Our clerkships are available remotely or in person. We also offer hybrid work options.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Fall clerkships - Accepting applications until filled.

Applications submitted after the posting expires will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Cover Letter (cover letter should state what program(s) and LASNNY office(s) are of interest to applicant), Resume, and Writing Sample are required.

LASNNY is committed to the creation of an inclusive and diverse workplace and providing Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action to all applicants. We strongly encourage applications from women, BIPOC, LGBTQ individuals, protected veterans, applicants and recipients of public assistance, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:

Below are descriptions of the various programs offered at LASNNY. Please specify which program(s) you are interested in working with and which office(s) you are interested in working with in your cover letter. Law clerks generally gain experience interacting with clients; researching and writing both court documents and client correspondence; attending court appearances, administrative hearings, or other meetings; and exposure to a law firm environment.

Disability Advocacy Program - All Offices

• DAP advocates represent clients with physical and mental impairments including, but not limited to clients suffering from intellectual limitations, anxiety, depression, HIV, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, musculoskeletal impairments, Crohn's disease, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. DAP advocates review medical, educational, and vocational records to argue if adults and children meet the rules for a finding of disability as defined by the Social Security Administration. DAP law clerks will have the opportunity to perform research and writing for federal court cases, administrative appeals, and administrative hearings. They will also call clients, observe meetings and hearings, and assist attorneys in preparation for hearings.

Regional Intake - All Offices

• Regional Intake Attorneys provide Legal advice to clients. They engage with clients, understand their legal issues, and provide essential guidance with empathy and integrity. Each day, they gather case information, conduct legal consultations, and assess client needs, ensuring that no challenge goes unaddressed. They collaborate with a talented team, leveraging innovative approaches to problem-solving. Clerk responsibilities include but are not limited to client interviewing, legal research and writing; document review and analysis; investigation; drafting legal documents and correspondence.

Housing - Albany and Saratoga

• Housing attorneys represent low-income clients who are facing eviction in both city and town/village courts, termination or denial of housing vouchers (Section 8), and denial of emergency assistance by the Department of Social Services. Housing attorneys also occasionally initiate affirmative litigation to force landlords to reverse illegal evictions and/or make necessary repairs. The housing practice also includes representation in public and subsidized housing evictions, requesting and pursuing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act, and enforcing the rights of tenants under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The clerk will be involved in drafting pleadings and correspondence, conducting client interviews, and contacting clients, case development and investigation, research and legal assessment, trial and hearing preparation, and accompanying attorneys to court and administrative hearings.

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