Attorney

The Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to the advancement of the health and well-being of all New Yorkers.  To this end, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), FPHNYC incubates innovative public health initiatives implemented by DOHMH to advance community health throughout the city. FPHNYC also facilitates partnerships, often new and unconventional, between government and the private sector to develop, test, and launch new initiatives. These collaborations speed the execution of demonstration projects, effect expansion of successful pilot programs, and support rapid implementation to meet the public health needs of individuals, families, and communities across New York City.  

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: 

With an annual budget of $1.6 billion and more than 6,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. DOHMH is tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results. The breadth of DOHMH innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of the team.  

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

DOHMH is seeking an Attorney who will be part of an interdisciplinary team of attorneys and  volunteers engaged in a medical legal partnership who will provide legal information to community members in East Harlem and in Brownsville neighborhood public health offices to help people resolve issues that affect their lives (and health) in areas like housing, immigration, benefits, family and domestic violence – so as to prevent problems from turning into legal cases.

In coordination with the Office of the General Counsel, this position will be co-located at the Bureaus of Brooklyn Neighborhood Health and East Harlem Neighborhood Health in the Center for Health Equity & Community Wellness (CHECW), which seeks to eliminate racial and other inequities resulting in premature mortality. With an unwavering grounding in history and structural analysis, CHECW works to increase visibility of the harm perpetuated by centuries of racist, socially unjust policy while pushing towards redress for the most impacted NYC communities. CHECW addresses inequity across community and healthcare systems in partnership with community, faith-based, and health care organizations. CHECW’s work focuses on social determinants of health, including environmental and commercial determinants, and addresses both upstream and downstream factors to improve health and well-being of New Yorkers. CHECW is a division of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

The DOHMH Office of the General Counsel is seeking to hire an Attorney to identify services, provide advocacy, establish partnerships, make referrals, oversee operations, and various other tasks.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• With other attorneys, oversee the daily operations of the call-in/walk-in medical legal partnership centers
• Recruit volunteers to participate in the medical legal partnership program every six months
• Organize volunteer calendar and staffing
• Supervise volunteers as they provide guidance, offer information, and assist visitors, including some evening and weekend hours
• Screen cases that should be referred for legal representation by legal services organizations or bar associations, and establish policies and procedures for legal referrals
• Conduct outreach on an ongoing basis for new volunteers and visitors
• Create relationships and partnerships with local community-based organizations, local officials, and legal services organizations
• Organize virtual professional development training for volunteers and virtual Know Your Rights workshops for the community
• Maintain policy and procedure for data collection, recording, and reporting using record-keeping systems, and approved computer platform

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Admission or pending admission to the New York State bar

• Experience managing referral and case management practices to ensure social-emotional and social service support for the community
• Experience providing services including counseling, outreach, and consultation
• Client advocacy experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust and maintain relationships with community partners
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; presentation skills a plus
• Strong organizational skills with good follow-through to complete assignments within specified timeframes
• Experience monitoring the implementation of programming, including overseeing data collection processes, and adjusting program implementation to meet demonstrated needs
• Excellent attention to detail, balanced with an appreciation of the bigger-picture goals and objectives
• Ability to work well independently and with an interdisciplinary team

PREFERENCES:

• Bilingual in Spanish or French
• Experience working in a legal setting
• Ability to understand the concepts of social determinants of health, institutional racism, structural racism, health inequities and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities 
• Demonstrated commitment to supporting communities that have experienced systemic oppression and bias (e.g., people of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, justice involved persons, etc.)

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

FPHNYC offers a comprehensive benefit package 

• Salary range is $75,000 to $80,000

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer 

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy 

• Medical, dental, and life insurance with low or no employee contribution 

• A retirement savings plan with generous employer contribution 

• Flexible spending medical and commuter benefits plan 

• Meaningful work at an organization striving to advance health equity and social justice 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Mon-Friday 9am to 5pm

This position will be funded through June 30, 2025, with possibility of extension. 

LOCATION:

2 days:

259 Bristol Street   

Brooklyn, NY 11212 

3 days:

East Harlem Neighborhood Health

Harlem is 158 E115 Street, New York, NY 10029 

TO APPLY:

To apply, upload Resume, including how your experience relates to this position. Applicants who best match the position needs will be contacted. 

The Fund for Public Health in New York City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages a diverse pool of candidates to apply.