The Legal Aid Society, the nation’s largest and oldest public defense and civil legal services provider is dedicated to a simple yet powerful mission: ensuring that no individual is denied the right to equal justice. For 148 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long – working on the front lines and behind the scenes to offer the people we serve the exceptional legal services they deserve. Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we offer an unmatched depth and breadth of legal expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers every year in over 200,000 individual legal matters while also impacting millions with effective advocacy, impact litigation and legislative agenda. We are dedicated to blunting the impact of poverty on individuals, families, and communities.

The Legal Aid Society is seeking a dedicated HR Benefits Assistant to join the Benefits and Compensation Department. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Benefits and Compensation, the ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

File Room Management

• Organize, file, and maintain employee records, including benefits documentation and compliance-related materials
• Accurately label and store files in accordance with HR policies and procedures
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of all employee information within the file room
• Assist with transitioning to digital recordkeeping systems and maintaining digital records as needed

Employee ID Badges

• Issue new employee ID badges and replace lost or damaged badges
• Assist with ID badge inventory and coordinate with facilities and building security to maintain badge access controls and ensure employee badge records are maintained in the system of record
• Update employee information to reflect role changes in titles or department transfers
• Assist in troubleshooting badge-related access issues and respond to employee inquiries

Benefits and Compensation Support

• Provide general administrative support to the HR Benefits team, including answering employee questions related to benefits, employee records, and ID badge procedures
• Assist with the HR Benefits team email ticking system providing timely and accurate responses
• Assist with employee orientation sessions, and other HR events as needed
• Gather and compile data related to benefits and HR operations, as requested by HR management

Invoice Processing

• Work with stakeholders in HR and Finance to review, verify, and process benefits-related invoices for payment, ensuring accuracy and timely submission
• Work closely with finance and benefits vendors to resolve discrepancies and confirm invoice details
• Maintain detailed records of all processed invoices for auditing and reporting purposes

Professional Development and other duties as assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Minimum of two (2) years of relevant or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong data entry skills with attention to detail
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and discretion
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal

Preferred qualifications:  

• One to two years of administrative experience in HR, benefits administration, or a related field preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to meet deadlines, and excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
• Must be proactive and thrive in a team environment while being able to work independently
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Sense of professionalism, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic
• Proficient computers skills, such as the Microsoft Office Suite

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required: 

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region
• Ability to lift 10 pounds on an occasional/routine basis

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $63,500 – $70,000

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if, an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York State to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/find-aid-you-need/new-york-state-loan-forgiveness-programs

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues.  Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jo**************@le*******.org.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.