Description & Job Requirements

Our legal practice is seeking to hire a Full-Time Associate Attorney to join our boutique special education law firm. The Associate Attorney will be responsible for independently managing a diverse caseload of special education matters, including representing parents of children with disabilities in impartial hearing administrative proceedings against the New York City Department of Education as well as in appealing decisions to the New York State Education Department Office of State Review. The Associate Attorney will also meet with potential new clients for initial consultation and work with Owner of the firm to assess merits of potential new clients’ claims.

Candidate must have litigation experience handling cases from inception through all stages of the litigation process through resolution. Candidate should have a strong interest in special education law and in ensuring that special needs children receive an appropriate education.

Candidate should have excellent organization, writing, and communication skills with strong attention to detail. Candidate must be a motivated self-starter and resourceful. Candidate must be highly organized and deadline oriented with the ability to organize multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Specific assignments will include, but are not limited to:

• Communicate with clients to understand their needs and concerns and determine how best to address them
• Draft relevant notices, witness affidavits, due process complaints, and direct examination questions in preparation for Impartial Hearings
• Negotiate with opposing counsel for possible settlement
• Represent clients at Impartial Hearing administrative proceedings, including direct and cross examination of witnesses
• Draft opening statements and closing briefs
• Conduct legal research
• Draft and finalize stipulations of settlement
• Prepare appeals to the Office of State Review
• Assist in the management of paralegals and administrative staff in various pre- and post-litigation tasks, including:
  • Supervising legal work assigned to paralegals who are working on your assigned matters, including weekly check-in meetings and daily guidance
  • Guiding paralegals on securing necessary documents/information from clients, providers, etc.
  • Interfacing with the Department of Education’s (DOE) Bureau of Nonpublic Schools Payables (BNPSP) in ensuring that all settlements are properly implemented, with necessary disbursements made to parents/schools
  • Guiding support staff’s work in interfacing with the DOE’s Impartial Hearing Office’s Implementation Unit to implement interim pendency orders and Findings of Fact and Decisions from Impartial Hearing Officer

Essential job functions

• Punctuality
• Weekend and evening hours when necessary to complete work assignments
• Appropriate and professional email and phone etiquette with clients, colleagues, third parties, and opposing counsel
• Consistent attention to detail
• Meeting deadlines consistently and independently
• Recording case time and expenses contemporaneously and meeting minimum billing requirements
• Recording notes regarding client communications and updates on our case management software
• Proposing ideas for innovations, improvements, and efficiencies
• Complying with Employee Handbook and office policies, systems, and procedures at all times

Description & Job Requirements

Our legal practice is seeking to hire a Litigation Paralegal (“Paralegal”) to join our boutique special education law firm at our lower Manhattan law office. Paralegal must possess a Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, or Paralegal Certificate as well as at least 1-2 years of relevant paralegal experience. Paralegal will provide essential litigation support to attorneys. This is a very hands-on role and Paralegal will have many opportunities for working closely with clients, speaking with witnesses, and preparing for litigation. Candidate should have excellent organization, writing, and communication skills with strong attention to details. Candidate must be a motivated self-starter. Candidate must be highly organized and deadline oriented with ability to organize multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Specific assignments will include, but are not limited to:

· Assisting attorneys in pre-hearing drafting assignments including drafting witness affidavits, due process complaints, and direct examination questions, all subject to attorney review and feedback.

· Gathering all necessary documents from clients and schools in preparation for settlement negotiations and/or impartial hearings.

· Drafting settlement agreements for attorney review/feedback.

· Preparing witnesses for their testimony in due process proceedings.

· Marking and redacting documents to serve as exhibits for impartial hearings, and drafting exhibit lists for impartial hearings.

· Reviewing transcripts, preparing witness summaries, and assisting attorneys in drafting closing statements and closing briefs.

· Assisting attorneys with legal research assignments.

· Managing client files, including reviewing and uploading documents/client files to law firm’s electronic database.

· Interfacing with the Department of Education’s (DOE’s) Bureau of Nonpublic Schools Payables (BNPSP) in ensuring that all settlements are properly implemented, with necessary disbursements made to parents/schools.

· Assisting in various aspects of post-litigation tasks, including:

. Drafting Fee Claims for Federal Court

. Managing administrative support staff in serving necessary paperwork for fee claims

. Interacting with ECF and PACER to perform above tasks

· Interfacing with the DOE’s Impartial Hearing Office’s Implementation Unit to implement interim pendency orders and Findings of Fact and Decisions from Impartial Hearing Officers.

· Interfacing with clients both by phone and email to ensure successful completion of necessary forms and to ensure they are providing our firm with necessary documents needed for litigation, implementation, settlements, etc.

· Creating and maintaining various databases designed to improve efficiency and overall health of the law firm, including but not limited to creating and maintaining legal fees analytics spreadsheet, implementation status spreadsheet, and ten-day notice inventory spreadsheet.

Essential job functions

· Punctuality and ability to abide by office hours (9am-6pm)

· Appropriate and professional email and phone etiquette with clients, colleagues, third parties, and opposing counsel

· Consistent attention to detail

· Meeting deadlines consistently

· Recording case time and expenses contemporaneously and meeting minimum billing requirements

· Proficiency with technical and computer skills (training provided for utilizing law firm software and applications)

· Proposing ideas for innovations, improvements, and efficiencies

· Complying with Employee Handbook at all times