Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

NetQuarterLatte t1_j91w2k9 wrote

> The Legal Aid Society has given raises of up to $40,000 to management, while offering 2 percent to workers under conditions where there are 300 vacant positions in their front-line staff.

I didn’t imagine Legal Aid as an exploitative employer. But here we are. One more for the 2023 bingo card.

69

shutmywhoremouth t1_j929crh wrote

Non-profit organizations can be incredibly explorative places to work. Low pay, high turnover, a persistent "do less with more" mentality, and guilting staff into doing a lot of unpaid labor for the sake of clients. All the while frontline staff is burning out, becoming physically and mentally unwell, and descending into poverty. My perspective is based on nearly 20 years in NYC based community mental health.

50

donttouchthirdrail t1_j92b4j8 wrote

I have family members who worked for legal aid briefly and they had a pretty dim view of both the organization and the work they did

22

brownredgreen t1_j92y7v9 wrote

The System is the problem.

Good employers are like good cops

Power rarely cedes itself

6

NetQuarterLatte t1_j93rrid wrote

A big problem with cops is that because they work to protect the law (which is good), they too often start believing they are superior to others.

Big hats in NGOs doing work that is morally good are liable to the same problem.

2

BarbaraJames_75 t1_j92c7gm wrote

Some key quotes:

In 2017, over two years prior to the onset of the pandemic, New York City passed the Right to Counsel law, which guarantees legal representation for low-income tenants facing eviction. With the removal of all COVID-19 mitigation measures, including the eviction moratorium at the beginning of 2022, a tidal wave of eviction actions was unleashed, greatly increasing the Legal Aid caseload, without any commensurate increase in staff or resources.

“We worked our asses off and we are all struggling with making ends meet. We’re asking for funding fairness and for parity with our colleagues across the aisle who at many different steps are making substantially more than us.”

Here's an interesting book that gets at the root of this type of labor issue--idealism in the non-profit sector: Sarah Jaffe, Work Won't Love You Back (2021).

16

MathDeacon t1_j97wsqm wrote

To be honest part of the problem was Legal Aid (and other tenant lawyer organizations) have taken cases for non-tensnts. Fired supers, squatters, individuals with no possessory interest (ie not residing in a rent stabilized apt). Probably did that to get funds. But they made their lawyers and staff continue handling these cases when there are now tenants in non payment cases who can't get lawyers. so poor management and probably financial greed (ironic) caused a lot of the overwork.

3

ripstep1 t1_j96i36d wrote

Another example of government overreach

1

spicytoastaficionado t1_j95xub6 wrote

300 front-line vacancies when they are facing what is probably the largest eviction caseload in their history.

4

cum-chatka t1_j93llpy wrote

Let’s not give platform to the tankie pro Russian websites shall we

2

Sea_Consequence_7699 t1_j95nqlu wrote

They've been understaffed and underpaid for years. Why do you think everyone pleads guilty? If you get legal aid you lose the case. Why? They have no resources to provide effective counsel to anyone. They basically stand there after talking to you for 4 mins before your case and they watch you get torn to shreds.

1

BakedBread65 t1_j979l29 wrote

Lmao tell me you know nothing about the NYC criminal Justice system without telling me

5

lynxminx t1_j93fjpu wrote

Canceling my monthly donation.

−2

lynxminx t1_j974u8y wrote

Am I being downvoted for canceling, or for ever donating to them in the first place?

2

NetQuarterLatte t1_j97k7cy wrote

Not sure it would make a difference either way.

Because the vast majority of the Legal Aid’s revenue comes the government, so tax payers are already donating.

And specifically, the amount they spend on fundraising appears to practically cancel how much they actually raise from non-government revenue.

1

lynxminx t1_j97lup7 wrote

True, it won't bring them down, but I'd rather give my spare scratch to an organization that won't spend it on executive bonuses.

2

JohnQP121 t1_j9adgsk wrote

Being that this is Reddit, probably both 😁

1

[deleted] t1_j92mo1e wrote

Comrade, if I work from home should I go back to the office then walk back out? I didn't see any guidance on your website's Marxist Library for this.

−15

AnotherUselessPoster t1_j92c4rl wrote

You mean the same people that pushed so hard for "criminal justice reforms" that have basically eliminated any serious consequences for most crimes are NOW whining for a raise?

−17

Turbulent_Link1738 t1_j93xppi wrote

Like it or not, strong justice is only possible with strong criminal defense. Even the worst criminal deserves a good lawyer.

8

deafiofleming t1_j92vrwb wrote

pray tell the correlation between justice and fair compensation

7