Title:                           Legal Fellow (Post Graduate) NYC and Albany/Latham, NY
Department:              Office of General Counsel
Salary:                        $75,000-$78,000
Date:                           June 11, 2024

Overview:

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) seeks motivated law school graduates to fill two (2) Post-Graduate Legal Fellow positions within its Office of General Counsel (OGC) in its New York City and Albany/Latham offices, for remote positions, with intermittent in-person appearances. Each Fellowship is limited to a one-year term to commence in or around August 2024. Fellowships are open to recent law school graduates with bar application pending or recently admitted attorneys, with strong and demonstrable interest in representing labor unions and their members.

Primary Responsibilities:

• A position with NYSUT is the opportunity to engage in work that matters.
• Legal Fellows will assist the OGC and its attorneys to advocate on behalf of NYSUT members and affiliated local unions to protect and expand their legal rights.
• Legal Fellows will perform research and writing primarily in the areas of federal and New York State labor and employment law, education law, and Constitutional law through which they will develop a better understanding of the scope and practical application of such laws, knowledge that can be used to further the interests not only of NYSUT and its members but the broader labor movement.
• Opportunities will be available to attend administrative hearings and other proceedings and to attend and assist with client counseling and witness preparation meetings. As opportunities arise, Legal Fellows may need to research and write upon matters of civil procedure, evidence, and professional responsibility. They may assist in drafting briefs and pleadings and assist in preparation for oral argument.

Qualifications:

• JD from an accredited law school
• Admitted to practice or pending admission to practice in the State of New York
• Strong and demonstrable interest in representing labor unions and their members
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (strong research, writing, analytical, and advocacy skills)

Qualifications continued:

• Ability to work independently and responsibly, as well as ability to work well with others
• New York State residency during Fellowship required, with residency in proximity to work location, however a majority of the work will be remote
• Experience drafting legal pleadings, negotiating settlement agreements, handling arbitrations, in addition to having substantial knowledge in the areas of civil litigation, education law and labor/employment law in both the public and private sectors, is a plus
• Working knowledge of Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel, and Word), as well as other similar applications, is desired.

NYSUT’s Office of General Counsel – What do we do?

• The OGC is NYSUT’s in-house counsel’s office with over 30 attorneys and over a dozen support staff, located throughout its Albany/Latham, Buffalo and NYC offices. The OGC is a full-service law office that provides zealous legal representation and practical guidance in a variety of settings in both the public and private sectors. OGC staff attorneys primarily work remotely, but for required in-person hearings and appearances.
• NYSUT OGC is a collegial environment where the staff supports one another and often work together on litigation and projects. The successful candidate should be prepared to work collaboratively with OGC’s attorneys, managers, and support staff, as well as with NYSUT’s officers, employees, local unions and union members.
• OGC attorneys practice at all levels of state and federal courts in New York, before all relevant state and federal administrative agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and the New York State Public Employment Relations Board, and in arbitration proceedings. Associate counsels represent individual union members and affiliated local unions in a wide variety of legal matters, including but in no way not limited to disciplinary arbitration proceedings, license revocation proceedings, representation proceedings, unfair labor practice/improper practice charge proceedings, and court litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Why Should You Apply?

• Competitive salary
• Excellent benefits, including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans
• Generous PTO plan
• Excellent experience, mentorship and growth opportunities for law school graduates
• Work-life balance
• Collaborative and supportive work environment with a diverse group of experienced professionals
• Working within our highly respected organization provides the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of working people and provides the ability to be a proud part of the labor movement at the local, state and national levels

NYSUT- Who are we?

NYSUT is a statewide labor organization affiliated with more than 1,200 local unions, each representing its own members. NYSUT is affiliated with two national unions, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA). NYSUT represents nearly 700,000 people who work in, or are retired from, New York’s schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities, including teachers, teacher aides and assistants, college and university faculty and professional staff, school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. NYSUT’s policy is to ensure an equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by the law. At NYSUT, we believe in creating a work environment free of barriers and bias, where individual outlooks and talents are respected and valued.

NYSUT is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. NYSUT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.  Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Please consider joining NYSUT OGC by emailing a cover letter, resume and writing sample to HR@nysut.org by July 22, 2024 (Indicate “Legal Fellow Application” in the subject line, along with your name.) Successful candidates will undergo a background and professional reference check.

www.nysut.org.