Research and Policy Staff Attorney – Immigrant Students’ Rights
Job Description
Advocates for Children of New York (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. For more information on AFC, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.
AFC seeks a Staff Attorney for its Immigrant Students’ Rights Project (ISRP). ISRP works to protect the education-related rights of underserved immigrant families. Immigrant families face unique obstacles in NYC public schools related to their linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The Staff Attorney will report directly to ISRP’s Project Director.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The attorney will primarily serve immigrant families of children with special needs and English Language Learners (ELLs).
Responsibilities include:
• Representing parents at special education administrative hearings;
• Participating in school meetings and school visits;
• Assisting families with school related issues such as school enrollment, locating bilingual
programs, and addressing bullying;
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please e-mail one document that includes a resume and cover letter to ISRPstaffattorney@afcnyc.org with “Staff Attorney – Immigrant Students’ Rights Project” in the subject line. Candidates should highlight why they are interested in this role at AFC and how their experience aligns with the Staff Attorney position, including any personal or professional experience that demonstrates your connection to the populations AFC serves. Due to the high volume of applicants, only complete applications from
qualified candidates will be contacted.
EXPECTED START DATE
The position is available immediately, and resumes will be considered on a rolling basis.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time position, with a salary in the $73,000 – $81,000 range, depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. 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 long- and short-term disability insurance.
OTHER INFORMATION
Currently, all AFC positions are expected to work at least 2 days a week in the office and remotely on the remaining days. COVID vaccination is required prior to the first day of employment.
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, 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.
• Providing know-your-rights trainings to families, community organizations, and service providers;
• Supporting ongoing policy advocacy efforts focusing on ELLs, immigrant students, and access to translation and interpretation services in schools;
• Researching and conducting outreach to organizations that provide services to immigrant
communities; and
• Drafting and updating informational materials for immigrant parents;
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Law degree required and admission to the NYS bar preferred;
• 0-4 years of legal experience required;
• Spanish language fluency required;
• Ability to effectively engage across cultures, identities, and ethnicities, particularly Latinx and immigrant families;
• Strong presentation skills and comfort with public speaking;
• Able to engage with a variety of audiences that include parents, community partners, and NYC DOE staff;
• Organized, detail oriented, and able to work independently on tasks and deliverables;
• Strong writing ability;
• Understanding of and alignment with AFC’s mission. Please review AFC’s work at
www.advocatesforchildren.org; and
• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
