The Legal Aid Society houses the largest post-conviction public defense practice in New York City, annually providing holistic, client-centered representation to over 1,000 people with misdemeanor, felony, and homicide convictions.   We represent low-income people in all five boroughs who are challenging their criminal convictions on appeal or in other post-conviction proceedings.  Our practice includes direct appeals of judgment convictions; collateral litigation such as Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) resentencing applications, Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) hearings, and Parole Advocacy; as well as Wrongful Conviction cases.

Our Reentry Services Unit strives to support the reentry of our post-conviction clients, with a particular focus on our DVSJA, SORA, Parole Advocacy, and Wrongful Conviction clients.  Clients leaving the custody of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) have a range of needs when reentering the community.  The Reentry team develops and implements reentry plans that can address needs around housing, substance use treatment, mental health treatment, public benefits, securing vital documents and basic needs items, medical treatment, case management, and any additional identified areas of need.

The Project Manager, in collaboration with internal stakeholders, will design protocols for the Reentry Services Unit, including for intake, services, and record-keeping.  In addition to carrying a small caseload, the Project Manager will be responsible for the supervision of the two Client Advocates and overall management of the unit.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Paralegal Client Advocate Support and Supervision

• Supervise and support the Paralegal Client Advocates in the Unit
• Onboard and train Paralegal Client Advocates
• Assign clients to Paralegal Client Advocate upon referral
• Hold regular check-in meetings with Paralegal Client Advocates, set performance expectations, review work, and provide feedback
• Provide guidance and support during reentry planning process

Re-entry Project Management

• Facilitate internal Reentry Services Unit meetings
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop reentry services protocols regarding, among other things, intake, reentry services, record keeping
• Manage administrative needs at case initiation and maintain accurate case record in case management system
• Maintain updated reentry resource guide for all five boroughs of NYC as well as select locations in New York State
• Develop and give trainings to internal and external staff as needed

Re-entry Caseload

• Carry a small caseload engaging in all the responsibilities required for reentry support
• Develop reentry plans in consultation with clients, their attorney, mitigation specialist, and/paralegal
• Support clients in the implementation of the reentry plan upon release
• Provide letters of reasonable assurance to clients
• Communicate with clients through letters, phone calls, and in person meetings at the office, at services providers, in the community, and carceral settings
• Advocate to parole officers on behalf of Reentry Service Unit clients
• Troubleshoot barriers to reentry plan and make additional referrals as needed

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
• Other duties as assigned

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of work experience OR a combination of 7+ years of post-secondary education, work experience, and/or relevant lived experience, such as a period of incarceration
• Experience communicating with probation departments and local and state correctional services, preferably in New York State
• Experience with case management work and/or discharge planning

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior supervisory or project management experience strongly preferred
• Former incarceration and direct experience with the criminal legal system preferred
• Knowledge of New York service providers and procedures for accessing public benefits preferred
• Proficiency in a language or languages other than English preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage a large workload and meet deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to pay strong attention to detail and think critically
• Ability to respond to crisis and problem solve independently
• Highly motivated with a willingness to work as a team and adapt to the changing needs of the practice and the clients
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office programs

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to lead a small team, including motivating people, managing and assessing work, providing feedback, and solving problems
• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices

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
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor
• May require occasional travel to upstate prisons and around the five boroughs

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $90,000 – $95,000

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

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/loan-forgiveness-programs

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 via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jo**************@le*******.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

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.

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.