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:
Family-Centered: We listen to what families want for their children and empower them with information and support.
Expertise: We ground our advocacy in more than 50 years of experience with the NYC public schools and deep knowledge of the legal and education systems affecting the students and families we serve.
Passion: We are united by our unrelenting drive to dismantle obstacles to education and our unwavering dedication to NYC's students and families.
Community: We foster collaboration and inclusive practices within our team and with outside partners so we can learn from different perspectives and unite in advancing our common goals.
Justice: We view the law as a powerful tool to bridge gaps in access to education and help families from under-represented communities fight for their rights.
Impact: We recognize that our value lies in the difference we make in the lives of students and their families and push ourselves to achieve concrete results.
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 Tracking and following up on money owed by the Department of Education to parents, schools, and service providers as a result of litigation
Billing, negotiating, and accounting for fees owed to AFC by the Department of Education when AFC prevails in a case
Processing, reporting on and accounting for AFC's client loan funds and coordinating with Hebrew Free Loan Society, which administers the funds
Analyzing and preparing data on loans and legal fees for budgeting and auditing, including partnering with the Operations and Development teams to provide additional support as needed
Assisting in casework including communicating with clients, preparing for hearings, and keeping records
Based on demonstrated ability and capacity, the opportunity to learn to advocate on behalf of clients and handle casework
Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
1-2 years of relevant post-college work experience
Excellent technical skills, especially in Excel
Experience with Salesforce or similar data management system, a plus
Strong organizational skills and attentiveness to accuracy and detail
Ability to think proactively, anticipate problems, and develop effective solutions
Ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize them, meet deadlines, and elevate issues as appropriate
Strong oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a variety of people
Ability to work independently and in a team
Spanish fluency preferred
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.
