Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) seeks a Project Director to lead our Elderly Project. VOLS’ mission is to leverage the good will, resources, and talents of some of New York City’s leading law firms to provide pro bono legal services to the city’s neediest residents.  Each year, nearly 1,000 volunteer attorneys provide legal assistance to more than 3,000 low-income New Yorkers through VOLS’ projects.

 Founded in 1990, VOLS’ Elderly Project works closely with senior centers in Manhattan and participating law firms to coordinate pro bono legal services for low-income elderly people.  A major emphasis of the Project is on enabling volunteer attorneys from law firms to prepare life-planning documents, including wills, health care proxies, powers of attorney, and medical advance directives for seniors.  The Project also advises seniors and their non-attorney advocates on a wide range of other legal issues, including housing, consumer debt, Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security, and other government benefits.

We seek a Project Director who has the creativity and passion to build on this Project’s successful 27 years of operation by developing new ways for VOLS to engage volunteer lawyers in providing legal assistance to low-income seniors. 

Specifically, the Project Director will:

  • Establish a vision and direction for our Elderly Project in collaboration with VOLS’ senior management, Board of Directors, and project stakeholders
  • Work with a consultant to complete a strategic planning process for the Project that is already underway
  • Explore new ways for VOLS to provide legal assistance to low-income seniors
  • Communicate about the Project through traditional and digital media
  • Help raise funds for the Project to support both ongoing work and new initiatives
  • Maintain strong relationships with partner law firms by working closely with pro bono counsel, and strive to forge relationships with new partner firms
  • Hire and supervise an Elderly Project Legal Assistant, and
  • Manage the day-to-day work of the project, including recruiting and training volunteer lawyers, conducting legal clinics and home visits for homebound clients, making presentations at senior centers on key areas of law, updating project publications and the project’s blog, and collecting, updating and organizing data in our case-management system.

Qualifications

  • Experience in program management
  • New York State bar admission
  • Five years’ relevant legal experience
  • Experience preparing wills, health care proxies, advance directives, and powers of attorney and in other legal issues affecting low-income elderly people, such as  housing and government benefits
  • Familiarity with social services available to low-income elderly people
  • Supervisory experience
  • Commitment to serving low-income elderly people
  • Excellent writing and public speaking skills
  • Comfort working with clients through an interpreter
  • Experience working with pro bono lawyers is a plus
  • Spanish fluency is a plus

Compensation

Excellent benefits.  Salary DOE.

How To Apply 

After reviewing www.volsprobono.org, please email a cover letter and resume to apply@volsprobono.org, with the subject line “Application for Director, Elderly Project” followed by your name. Please include your salary requirements in your cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  No phone or email inquiries, please. VOLS is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, creed, age, disability, sexual orientation, biological sex, gender identity/expression, family status, or any other basis prohibited by law.  We strive to build and maintain a diverse staff, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds/identities to apply for this position.

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