Job Openings

Executive Director

About Us

Lawyers Alliance for New York was founded in 1969 as The Council of New York Law Associates by a small group of young lawyers who were driven by a spirit of political activism and a desire to give something back to their city. With the growing power of the nonprofit sector to create positive and enduring change, the Council developed new initiatives, and with this evolution, the Council changed its name to Lawyers Alliance for New York in 1991.

Since the late 1990s, Lawyers Alliance has implemented numerous program priorities and special initiatives that are tailored to the programmatic and legal needs of its dynamic and remarkable nonprofit clients. Lawyers Alliance established expanded services and visibility in the advocacy and national arenas, provided vital support to nonprofits affected by the Great Recession and Hurricane Sandy, and took a leading role in assisting nonprofits in complying with the Nonprofit Revitalization Act.

Each year, Lawyers Alliance staff, joined by 2,200 volunteer attorneys from a network of 150 law firms and corporations, assist hundreds of organizations. Lawyers Alliance’s network of pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations and staff of experienced attorneys collaborate to deliver expert legal counsel on corporate structure and governance, tax, real estate, employment, intellectual property, and other business and transactional law issues that are critical to nonprofits’ operations. In addition, we present dozens of educational trainings and offer a series of publications, all designed to help nonprofit managers meet the legal challenges that they face when pursuing their missions.

By specializing in business and transactional legal services for nonprofits, Lawyers Alliance directly impacts the nonprofit sector and New York City communities. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps organizations to provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages. Lawyers Alliance’s services greatly enhance its clients' performance, which translates into stronger programs, finances, and operations.

Lawyers Alliance continues to reflect its founders' vision: that lawyers could and should be a vital force for change.

 

Executive Director Position

Lawyers Alliance is looking for a dynamic, strategic, and hands-on Executive Director (ED) committed to driving social change by strengthening nonprofits. Reporting to an active and engaged Board of Directors, the ED will directly manage a team of four to five senior leaders and oversee a staff of 20.

The ED will serve as the organization’s chief executive, lead fundraiser, and external advocate, as well as oversee the organization’s direction and strategic growth. Additionally, the ED will be a champion for the Lawyers Alliance team and cultivate a collaborative and inclusive culture while also advancing the organization's operations.

This is an exciting opportunity for a mission-driven leader to have a deep impact on the people, nonprofits, and communities of New York City .

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

  • In partnership with the board, serve as the senior-most strategic leader, setting the vision and strategic direction for Lawyers Alliance including through development of a Strategic Plan and Values Statement
  • Coach, mentor, manage, and build a high-performing team, committed to the Lawyers Alliance work, where team members are held accountable for achieving ambitious goals, and provided with opportunities for growth and development.
  • In collaboration with the management team, develop and execute the organization’s long-term strategy, identify challenges to be addressed, and identify and pursue opportunities
  • Manage all day-to-day operations (including legal, finance, fundraising, and communications) and staff , with ultimate accountability for the success of the organization
  • Oversee the development and implementation of operational systems and processes that enable the team to work efficiently and effectively
  • Ensure staff has clearly defined roles and goals and access to the information and resources necessary to achieve their goals
  • Demonstrate a collaborative leadership model in partnership with the Management Team

External Leadership and Fundraising

  • Serve as the external voice of the organization, raising the public’s awareness of Lawyers Alliance’s work and enhancing the organization’s visibility, brand recognition, and credibility; acting as a thought leader to differentiate Lawyers Alliance from other peer organizations
  • In partnership with the Development Director, Program and Strategy Director, Legal Director, and the Board, maintain and cultivate relationships with major donors (individuals, foundations, government agencies, corporations, and law firms), building a broad base of support and a network of champions among existing and new supporters
  • In partnership with the Senior Policy Counsel, develop and manage strategic relationships with key partners (community leaders, funding partners, legal advocates, policy makers, direct service providers, etc.) to deepen Lawyers Alliance’s influence and impact

Whom You Will Work With

You will report to the Board of Directors.

You will supervise the Director of Operations, Director of Development, Legal Director, Program and Strategy Director, Senior Policy Counsel, Marketing Director, and the Executive & Development Assistant.

You will frequently collaborate with staff that are highly engaged with clients and execution of services.

Required Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

  • An authentic passion and and commitment for Lawyers Alliance mission with an ability to serve as an exemplar for our values
  • Strong appetite to lead fundraising efforts, ideally with a demonstrated track record of success leading fundraising in a nonprofit setting
  • Outstanding organizational leadership skills, with an ability to articulate a clear and inspiring vision while managing, coaching, and developing a high-performing team and engaged board of directors
  • Strong management experience with a demonstrated track record of implementing team-focused systems and processes that elevate performance and increase the team’s connection to the organization and its mission
  • Collaborative and empathetic approach to team leadership, and a demonstrated capacity to partner well with others and influence leaders
  • Experience overseeing the financial management and financial strategy of an organization (i.e. developing budgets, creating financial reports, reporting financial health to the board)
  • Strong public speaking and written communication skills, with the ability to serve as a strong external representative for the organization
  • Given the nature of our work, a J.D. is strongly preferred

Compensation

The annual salary range for this role starts at $250,000 and is commensurate with experience.

Next Steps

Qualified individuals, to see the full online version of this job announcement and to apply, click here: https://www.on-ramps.com/jobs/3390.

Lawyers Alliance for New York is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Fellowship Announcement

Business/Transactional Law Externally-Funded Fellowship Fall 2025

Organization Overview:

Founded in 1969, Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofits that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, Lawyers Alliance for New York helps organizations to develop and provide housing, stimulate economic opportunity, improve urban health and education, promote community arts, and operate and advocate for vital programs that benefit low-income New Yorkers of all ages. Each year, Lawyers Alliance represents more than 700 nonprofits on more than 1,300 legal projects and assists hundreds more through educational programs. The staff of 22, including 12 attorneys, works with 2,000 pro bono attorneys from law firms and corporations to deliver these services.

Lawyers Alliance has five program priorities: community arts, economic opportunity, housing and human services, quality education, and urban health. In addition, Lawyers Alliance has developed four special initiatives to address emerging legal needs of the nonprofit sector: advocacy, national leadership, risk management, and disaster relief.

Fellowships:

Lawyers Alliance is specifically seeking fellowship applicants for Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Kirkland & Ellis, and other externally-funded fellowships for the following program areas:

Our Community Arts program priority helps organizations to provide artistic outlets and use the arts to foster education, social supports and services, and urban development.  Clients are engaged in enrichment activities for children and the elderly, in-school and after-school programs, music and dance performances, therapeutic arts programs, and other community-based arts activities.

Through our Economic Opportunity program priority, Lawyers Alliance helps to train and place people in jobs, increase financial literacy and economic independence, attract lending and investment, and promote community vitality and stability in all five boroughs.  Clients include community loan funds, low-income federal credit unions, community development corporations, workforce development groups, business improvement districts and community revitalization organizations, faith-based groups, nonprofits involved in for-profit business ventures, and other economic opportunity organizations. 

Our Housing and Human Services program priority helps organizations that provide counseling, support, housing, and social services that improve the quality of life for children, youth, families, and senior citizens and special needs populations, including, but not limited to, people with developmental disabilities or mental health issues, survivors of domestic violence, justice involved people, veterans, substance abusers, and homeless people.

Our Quality Education project priority helps nonprofit organizations that address educational needs from early childhood to adulthood. Clients include organizations that offer and support in-school and after-school educational enrichment, early learning and Head Start, public school improvement, charter schools and alternative public education programs, mentoring and tutoring, educational scholarships, college readiness and sustainability, occupational education, adult literacy, continuing education, English language learning, and STEM education.

Through our Urban Health program priority, Lawyers Alliance helps to promote preventative health, food security, healthy aging, and making New York City a greener place. Lawyers Alliance also supports the efforts of community-based organizations addressing social determinants of health in navigating New York State’s Medicaid Redesign. Clients include senior centers, afterschool programs, food and agricultural programs, parks and green spaces, educational organizations, mental health and behavioral health agencies, community health centers, nutrition and exercise programs, and nonprofits advocating for legislation and policies that eliminate health disparities and improve New Yorkers' lives.

The Advocacy Initiative strengthens the public policy impact of the nonprofit sector, by helping advocacy organizations with business and transactional law matters, understanding laws on lobbying and political activity, and legislation, as well as engaging in advocacy at the city, state, and federal levels on core issues affecting the nonprofit sector and in our five program priority areas.

Lawyers Alliance welcomes the opportunity to expose fellows to legal work and practical skills that address the legal needs of community-based and other nonprofit organizations focused on the above program priorities. Legal fellows work at Lawyers Alliance as a full-time staff attorney for one or two years and provide invaluable legal assistance to nonprofits and social enterprises that are serving low-income and disadvantaged New Yorkers. Our clients need help navigating a wide range of business law and issues, including nonprofit governance, structuring, contract, real estate, tax, regulatory and other concerns. Many seek legal advice on legal transactions with other parties.

Lawyers Alliance will work with qualified fellowship candidates who are applying for third-party funding to help them assess whether a public interest fellowship at Lawyers Alliance is a good fit. Many of our past fellows have worked on a wide range of business law and transactional issues across program priority areas, while others have developed or focused on one or more specific program priorities. Fellows develop professional skills and strengthen nonprofits by working on legal representation projects, teaching workshops and webinars on nonprofit legal issues, and assisting with client outreach, client screenings, legal research, pro bono clinics, volunteer attorney support, legal alerts and publications, and resource calls.

Lawyers Alliance is currently hosting a fellow through the National Center on Philanthropy and the Law (NCPL) Fellowship in Nonprofit Law, and also has a positive record of hosting public interest law fellows sponsored through the Skadden Foundation, Equal Justice Works, Harvard Law School, and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Lawyers Alliance is seeking a May 2025 JD graduate, recent graduate, or an experienced attorney looking to transition to public interest work. Experience working with low-income clients and/or with nonprofit organizations on transactional legal issues is preferred.

For further information, please contact fellowshipsearch@lawyersalliance.org with a resume and a brief project proposal/cover letter. Please confirm in your cover letter that you are applying for an externally-funded fellowship position and identify the fellowship that you are applying for or have received. Lawyers Alliance for New York is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are welcome and encouraged to apply.

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Lawyers Alliance for New York Internship Opportunities

Lawyers Alliance for New York's Board, staff, and volunteer attorneys are an unparalleled team of professionals who, together with our donors, are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in low-income communities throughout New York City. By specializing in business and transactional legal services for nonprofits, Lawyers Alliance enhances our clients' performance, which translates into expanded and improved programs for the families, children, and adults who need them most. We periodically are looking for student interns to join us, as volunteers or as part of a school-funded arrangement.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate for any internship position will be a motivated, detail-oriented team player who takes initiatives. We welcome candidates who are flexible and have a positive attitude. Applicants must be able to come to the office in-person. 

Lawyers Alliance for New York is committed to providing a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

 

School Year Undergraduate Internships

Lawyers Alliance seeks a motivated college junior or senior for a volunteer unpaid internship. The intern will be expected to work for at least 8 hours per week for at least ten weeks and will:

  • Conduct online factual research related to the nonprofit sector and pro bono trends and assist Lawyers Alliance staff in gathering and analyzing research;
  • Participate in Lawyers Alliance's client intake process;
  • Assist in planning special events, such as pro bono clinics and volunteer awards.
  • Collaborate with and observe staff members at various levels to learn more about the nonprofit and legal sectors; and
  • Complete other projects as requested.

How to Apply:  Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to InternSearch@lawyersalliance.org

 

School Year Legal Internships

Lawyers Alliance for New York offers unpaid internships for law students during the school year on the basis of student interest, staff attorney availability, and client need. Law student interns work with staff attorneys to provide legal assistance and information to nonprofits related to corporate, real estate, employment, intellectual property, tax, and other legal topics. Examples of prior assignments include assisting with client intake for a charter school with corporate law questions, assisting with a real estate construction loan closing for a supportive housing organization, and updating materials to be used in an employment law workshop for nonprofit managers.

How to Apply:  Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Legal_Intern_Search@lawyersalliance.org with the subject line, “Application for [Fall/Spring] Internship.”  To be considered for a Fall internship, materials must be submitted between July 1 and August 1.  For Spring internships, materials must be submitted between October 1 and November 1.

 

Summer Legal Internships

Lawyers Alliance seeks four 1L or 2L law students for a 10-week unpaid or school-funded summer internship position each year. Summer interns will:

  • Work with staff attorneys to provide legal assistance and information to nonprofits related to corporate, real estate, employment, intellectual property, tax, and other legal topics;Conduct online factual research relevant to New York nonprofits;
  • Participate in Lawyers Alliance's client intake process;
  • Follow up by telephone and email with clients and volunteer attorneys to obtain status information regarding all active legal matters;
  • Draft and update various memos, legal alerts and other written materials; and
  • Complete other projects as requested.

How to Apply:  Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to Legal_Intern_Search@lawyersalliance.org with the subject line “Application for Summer Internship”. To be considered for a summer internship, materials must be submitted between January 1 and February 1.

 

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