The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice is seeking a Paralegal Client Advocate for the Worker Justice Project (WJP). The Paralegal Client Advocate will assist WJP by representing clients in administrative proceedings related to occupational licensure and clearance, such as Department of State security guard licensure hearings and Department of Health home health aide/certified nurse aide clearance proceedings; preparing individual applications for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct; administratively overseeing pro bono law firm programs to assist individuals in applying for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct; identifying and correcting errors on clients’ criminal history records; and drafting personal statements and compiling accomplishment packets that clients can provide to prospective or current employers and government agencies to explain their criminal record and their accomplishments. The Paralegal Client Advocate will also maintain records, enter information into LawManager, and directly assist clients in matters and legal issues related to criminal record discrimination.

The Worker Justice Project combats discrimination faced by workers with arrest or conviction records living in New York City. Everyday employers and licensing agencies unfairly deny qualified individuals the opportunity to work because of pending charges, past convictions, and even sealed or dismissed cases. This discrimination prevents countless New Yorkers from maintaining financial stability and supporting their families—and further disenfranchises people of color already subjected to discriminatory employment practices and the racist administration of criminal justice.

The Worker Justice Project fights this discrimination through a bold and comprehensive approach. The Project advises Criminal Defense Practice staff on the employment consequences of criminal case dispositions in order to minimize harm to clients’ job opportunities and empowers workers with records to defend their rights. The Project also enforces the rights of workers who are unlawfully denied jobs or licenses because of arrest or conviction records by representing workers in administrative proceedings, pre-litigation advocacy, and affirmative litigation. Finally, the Project challenges government policies that create barriers to employment and advocates for legislative solutions to effect systemic change.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interview clients, provide advice and direct assistance
• Represent clients in administrative proceedings related to occupational licensure and clearance, such as Department of State security guard licensure hearings and Department of Health home health aide/certified nurse aide clearance proceedings
• Prepare individual applications for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct
• Organize and administratively oversee pro bono law firm programs that assist individuals in applying for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct
• Organize and oversee community outreach/know your rights events in conjunction with community organizations, politicians, and bar associations
• Identify and correct errors on clients’ criminal history records
• Draft personal statements and compile accomplishment packets that clients can provide to prospective or current employers and government agencies to explain their criminal record and their accomplishments
• Interview and assess client requests for services, facilitate referrals to partnering service providers, and provide other forms of direct client assistance
• Obtain, copy, and scan court files and clients’ criminal history records and submit minute requests
• Obtain and review client records and determine courses of action
• Update information in Law Manager
• Assist attorneys with obtaining and preparing relevant documents for matters related to criminal record discrimination and reentry
• Other duties as assigned

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program is preferred; will also consider 4+ years of applicable legal work experience or an equivalent combination of education/applicable legal work experience.
• Excellent writing, oral advocacy, and computer skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and manage a large workload
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team
• Ability to work efficiently and under time constraints to meet deadlines
• Ability to solve problems creatively
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate successfully with other groups and organizations
• Experience in and/or commitment to advocacy on behalf of low-income people is strongly desired
• Knowledge of New York criminal law and criminal procedure is strongly desired
• Knowledge of collateral consequences of criminal legal system involvement is strongly desired
• Proficiency in a language other than English is desirable

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

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

• Resume
• Cover Letter

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: $60,033- $91,932

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 leadership of 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, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

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.