Deputy Director of Legal Services

The Legal Action Center (LAC) seeks a full-time Deputy Director of Legal Services to supervise the legal department's attorneys, paralegals, and administrative team. This role provides direct legal services and client education and helps integrate legal services into LAC's broader strategy of litigation, policy advocacy, racial justice, and education. Reports to the Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy.

Location: New York City, hybrid work model.

About the Organization: LAC advocates for people who use drugs, are in recovery, live with HIV/AIDS or mental health conditions, or have arrest/conviction records — combating discrimination and working to shrink the criminal legal system's footprint. For over 50 years, with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., LAC has used impact litigation, legal services, education, and policy advocacy to dismantle systemic racial barriers. LAC's legal team serves over 1,000 clients annually and reaches thousands more through education and technical assistance, informing initiatives like Clean Slate NY. Visit our website: https://www.lac.org/ to learn more about our legal services and impact litigation

Position Overview: The Deputy Director of Legal Services oversees the department's client services, maintains a limited caseload, leads much of the department's educational work, builds relationships with community partners, and supports administrative operations, including grants management. This role works closely with departmental leadership to align legal services with LAC's racial justice, litigation, and policy priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage LAC's direct legal services program

• Support, supervise, and develop legal services staff
• Direct operational aspects of the legal services program with department leadership
• Maintain a limited docket, including conviction-sealing cases, pre-litigation negotiations, and administrative proceedings
• Serve as internal subject matter expert on record clearance and clients' prior criminal legal system involvement
• Manage grants and reporting, data gathering, proposal writing, and funding opportunities with the development team and SVP of Legal Advocacy
• Evaluate and improve intake processes and legal services policies and procedures
• Stay current on best practices in legal services delivery, including relevant technology and AI
• Engage people with lived experience in shaping legal services work
• Help identify systemic issues suited to strategic litigation or policy advocacy

Lead client education and outreach

• Develop and implement strategies, with legal, development, policy, and communications teams, to educate and engage New Yorkers who need LAC's services
• Supervise creation and distribution of written and electronic materials
• Develop and lead webinars, trainings, and community education events
• Oversee off-site collaborations and pro bono projects
• Build relationships with community-based organizations and lead outreach, ensuring the work is informed by and serves communities most affected by the war on drugs and mass incarceration

Engage in broader advocacy

• Participate in policy discussions and shaping LAC's policy agenda, and conduct limited policy advocacy as needed
• Cultivate and respond to media opportunities related to LAC's legal services agenda

Collaborate externally

• Work with outside legal services providers, plaintiffs' attorneys, and advocacy groups, including through task forces, coalitions, and conferences

Job Qualifications

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

• J.D. and admission to the New York State Bar
• 8+ years in a high-volume legal services practice serving underrepresented communities, including 3+ years in the criminal legal system (felony experience a plus)
• 5+ years of supervisory experience, with demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity
• Passion for dismantling barriers to re-entry, ending mass incarceration, and promoting public health, privacy rights, and racial and economic justice
• Excellent written and oral communication skills across diverse clients, partners, and stakeholders
• Ability to write in plain English and create educational materials for low-literacy and other audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to network effectively with external stakeholders
• Creative problem-solver with a sense of humor
• Familiarity with employment, disability rights, insurance, or health privacy law, substance use, and/or HIV-related issues a plus
• Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
• Experience with compliance, operations, or contract and grant management a plus
• Experience speaking publicly or to the media a plus

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $115,000–$135,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include medical insurance, a 403(b) plan with employer contribution, flexible pre-tax benefits, and generous time off.

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