Advocates For Children (AFC) is a dynamic social justice organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low-income backgrounds. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile/criminal legal systems. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students.
AFC grounds our work in our organization’s values:
For more information on AFC, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.
JOB SUMMARY
AFC seeks a full-time, detail-oriented, and proactive Legal Assistant to support our legal services staff in the representation of hundreds of families each year in the struggle to obtain appropriate educational services. The Legal Assistant supports our direct legal services work by processing and pursuing all payments that we have won through our legal advocacy, filing and tracking attorneys’ fees claims, and administering our client loan fund, which we use to help clients get services they urgently need. This position is an essential component of our legal services work and includes the potential to grow in casework responsibilities. The Legal Assistant reports to the Director of Project Thrive.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATIONS
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Candidates must submit a resume and cover letter highlighting why they are interested in this role at AFC and how their experience aligns with the Legal Assistant position, including any personal or professional experience that demonstrates their connection to the populations AFC serves.
The position is available immediately, and resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the high volume of applicants, only qualified candidates will be contacted.
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time position, with a salary in the range of $63,702 - $69,323, depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.
This position is expected to work at least 2 days a week in the office and remotely on the remaining days.
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION
AFC’s current compensation package includes medical and dental insurance, with a plan option that covers full payment of medical plan premiums for staff and their qualified dependents. AFC has generous time-off policies that include 10 federal holidays, office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and 15 vacation days and 15 paid time off days in the first year of employment. AFC also offers a 403(b) plan with a fully vested employer match and coverage of the premium cost of life insurance and short-term and long-term disability insurance.
AFC is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and encourages all applications including from people of color, persons with disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions and persons of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
AFC is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability or other protected characteristic. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. For more information and to request an accommodation, contact Human Resources at HR@advocatesforchildren.org.
