Director, Lawyer Assistance Program
2 days ago
New York
Job Description Position: Director, Lawyer Assistance Program Department: Lawyer Assistance Program Position Reports to: Executive Director, New York City Bar Association Location: New York, NY (hybrid position) FLSA Status: Exempt The Organization The New York City Bar Association (City Bar), founded in 1870, is a voluntary association of lawyers and law students. The City Bar’s mission is to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest in our community, our nation, and throughout the world. Department Function The New York City Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) was established in 1999 to provide free, confidential assistance to lawyers, judges, law students, family members and staff affected by mental health, substance use, professional, family, career, or any issues that cause distress that may result in affecting the quality of one’s life, at work and at home. LAP is a program of the City Bar Fund, the 501(c)3 non-profit affiliate of the NYC Bar Association and is primarily funded by a grant from the Unified Court System. LAP’s mission is to support the mental health and wellbeing of lawyers, judges and law students, and family members and staff in the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island) and Westchester. Job Functions The Director is responsible for leading all aspects of LAP’s operations and supporting its mission. This includes overseeing daily functions and driving the development and execution of short- and long-term strategies to support the program’s growth, sustainability, and impact. The ideal candidate will bring visionary leadership, operational expertise, and a strong commitment to the mission. The mission of LAP is to support lawyers, judges, law firms, courts, law schools, and other members of the legal profession in identifying and addressing impairment or distress by facilitating access to professional clinical assistance, provide expert clinical intervention, evaluation, assessment, treatment, and when appropriate, monitoring through LAP for individuals experiencing substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions. This role involves developing and executing a comprehensive communications and outreach strategy throughout the legal community, including creating web content, managing print and social media communications, delivering educational presentations (both in-person and online), and coordinating special events throughout the year. The Director is the primary public face of LAP and must effectively interact with many constituencies, including bar associations, firms, government agencies, the courts, law schools, and other legal organizations. The Director must have a deep passion for the wellbeing of others, a positive non-judgmental and accepting attitude toward individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, an appreciation of recovery principles, and a commitment to serve the legal profession. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Overall: • Oversee all aspects of LAP operation including the supervision of clinical and administrative staff., • Attend quarterly meetings of the City Bar Fund Board and prepare and deliver reports on LAP activities Fiscal:, • Oversee the fiscal management of LAP which includes preparing and overseeing the annual LAP budget, developing and pursuing fundraising opportunities, administration of the Unified Court System grant which includes preparing and submitting quarterly reports on LAP activities for the courtClinical:, • Manage LAP’s case management system, including oversight of initial consultations and evaluations, development of individualized support strategies, and coordination of services such as counseling, peer support, monitoring, and/or referrals to treatment programs or private practitioners, • Develop and maintain comprehensive network of approved clinical programs and providers and approved evaluators for clients in admissions or grievance process, • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with the Appellate Divisions in the First and Second Departments; manage all referrals from the Courts for evaluations and monitoring, • Manage the administration of LAP’s Monitoring Program, delivering court-ordered and voluntary monitoring services to lawyers, law students, and judges. Responsibilities also include overseeing volunteer recruitment, training attorney monitors, and facilitating peer support, • Oversee and facilitate weekly Lawyer AA meeting and Lawyer NA meeting and develop and facilitate additional support groups as needed Educational/Support:, • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with law school personnel across nine NYC and Westchester institutions, as well as with law firm well-being staff, including facilitation of a quarterly law firm Wellbeing Professionals Forum., • Develop and present well-being educational presentations at law schools, law firms, the courts and other organizations within the legal community. Provide educational roadmaps of how to implement well-being programming at organizations and for the community as a whole., • Stay informed about the evolving needs of the legal community concerning substance use disorders and mental health and well-being challenges that impact professional conduct and competency., • Create and coordinate City Bar programs (in person and virtual) including CLE programs and podcasts focusing on mental health, wellbeing and substance use in the legal profession including the Annual Celebration of Service fundraising dinner., • Collaborate with the City Bar's Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) Committee by attending monthly meetings and facilitating partnerships by inviting committee members to participate in educational presentations, develop CLE programs for the City Bar, and training committee members to serve as effective monitors., • Be available to and a resource for staff and members of the NYC Bar Association.Marketing:, • Develop effective marketing strategies to promote the availability of LAP services including maintaining and updating the LAP website and other social media platforms, creating marketing materials, articles, and appropriate communications with City Bar members and others., • Fully licensed in good standing as a New York State Social Worker (LCSW) or Psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D.) with a minimum of ten (10) years of managerial and administrative experience providing substance use and/or mental health evaluation and treatment services, OR be a licensed attorney in good standing, in personal, continuous recovery from a substance use disorder or a mental health diagnosis for a period of ten (10) years or longer, along with work or volunteer experience in intervention and the peer support model which values lived experience as a way to connect with and guide clients., • Knowledge of the legal profession and court system in New York State a plus, • A commitment and dedication to challenge the biases around the stigma of having a mental health and/or substance use disorder; demonstrated understanding of addiction as a treatable disease, recovery-oriented services, and evidence-based practices for treating substance use disorders, • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively lead meetings and deliver formal presentations, • Strong working knowledge of technology including Office 365 (e.g. Word, Office 365, Excel, PowerPoint); strong social media skills a plus, • Demonstrated organizational skills, strong problem-solving skills, and good judgement; Certification in Seminar Training in Field Instruction (SIFI) preferred, • Experience with trauma-informed approach preferred This is a hybrid position. The individual filling this role will generally need to come into the office 2 – 3 days a week, though this may vary based on changing needs. The annual salary for this role is in the $110,000 to $135,000 range for a full-time role. We provide a competitive benefits package including generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays including closing between Christmas and New Year’s day, day off for volunteer work, extra time off in summer, choice of medical plans, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, commuter benefits program, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, employee discounts, and more! To apply: It is recommended that qualified applicants include a cover letter, to explain why you are interested in the position when applying. Applications will be considered when received until a qualified candidate is hired. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and unique experiences to apply, especially those candidates belonging to historically under-represented communities. We welcome diversity of all kinds. It is the policy of the Organization to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, arrest or conviction record, pregnancy, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, marital status, partnership status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, religion, sex, genetic information, military status, unemployment status or any other characteristic as protected by law. With regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws, the organization will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for persons due to their religious beliefs, disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition or because the individual was a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking. Powered by JazzHR efDgLncoL5