Staff Attorney - MELS Unit; Team H

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Each Staff Attorney is a part of a team of lawyers, social workers and legal assistants who represent

city employees and their families in connection with civil legal matters covered by the MELS

programs.

EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL TASKS

Staff Attorneys assigned to specialized areas are expected to become proficient in those areas. Under

the direction of Supervising Attorneys, all Staff Attorneys have direct responsibility for all legal

components of cases assigned to them from the initial intake to the conclusion of the matter. In

instances where paraprofessional assistance is appropriate, the Staff Attorney is expected to delegate

to the paraprofessional certain tasks and to assure that they are properly completed.

Staff Attorneys are expected to adhere to prescribed systems of substantive case handling and office

procedures and to keep strict records of all activities, including accurate time records. Each Staff

Attorney meets regularly with the team’s Supervising Attorneys to review the progress of each case

assigned to that Staff Attorney and to review in depth the overall handling of each case at its

conclusion.

While addressing clients’ legal interests as outlined above, Staff Attorneys must also be aware that

each client represents more than an abstract legal problem to be analyzed and solved. Legal problems

are often closely linked to personal, family or work problems that must be addressed in order to provide

effective, lasting assistance to clients. MELS attorneys must, therefore, be sensitive to clients’ nonlegal matters and collaborate with staff social workers in service to the clients.

REQUIREMENTS

• Admitted to New York Bar

• MELS will expect each Staff Attorney to make a commitment of at least two years to MELS

• Two years’ experience preferred after admission to the New York Bar

• Ability to work with co-workers in a professional and non-confrontational manner

• Bi-lingual Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply

Anyone interested in this position, should send resume and cover letter to Jacqueline Francis,

, Director of MELS, by the end of the business day on January 21, 2026