Research and Policy Staff Attorney Educational Rights of Immigrant Students September 2018
Job Description
Overview
Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) seeks a Staff Attorney to protect the education-related rights of underserved immigrant families. Immigrant families face unique obstacles in NYC public schools that stem from their linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The attorney will primarily serve immigrant families of children with special needs, including representation at special education administrative hearings as well as participation in school meetings and school visits. The attorney will also represent immigrant families with respect to education-related issues including school enrollment, bilingual programs, and bullying. The attorney will provide know-your rights trainings to families, community organizations, and service providers. The attorney may also support ongoing policy advocacy efforts focusing on English Language Learners, immigrant students, and access to translation and interpretation services in schools.
The attorney will join AFC’s Immigrant Students’ Rights Project (ISRP). ISRP is a collaborative team of three attorneys which includes the Project Director, to whom the attorney will report.
AFC is a not-for-profit 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 justice systems. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students.
Qualifications
Law degree required and admission to the NYS bar preferred;
Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin language fluency required;
Demonstrated commitment to serving the public interest;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Experience working with immigrant, low-income and special needs communities, especially an understanding of the cultural issues that often accompany language barriers;
Interest in educational issues and issues affecting children, low-income families, and immigrant communities;
Experience working with children or families;
Strong team player;
Organizational skills, flexibility, initiative, maturity, and cooperative attitude.
Expected Start Date
The position is available immediately, and resumes will be considered on a rolling basis. Law students graduating in May 2018 are welcome to apply.
Compensation
The salary depends on experience. In addition to a competitive salary, AFC also offers generous benefits.
AFC is an affirmative action employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and especially encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions and persons of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. For more information on AFC, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.
