Job o’ the Day: Staff Attorney – Educational Rights of Immigrant Children, Advocates for Children of New York, Inc.

Are you a fairly new attorney with a commitment to immigration, children’s rights and advocating for quality public education? If so, then today’s Job of the Day is for you!

From the PSJD job listing:

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with New York City’s most disadvantaged families to secure quality public education services. 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.

AFC seeks a bilingual Spanish-speaking staff attorney to obtain high quality, appropriate educational service for underserved immigrant families. Responsibilities will include direct representation of families in special education administrative hearings and school discipline hearings, as well as case management responsibilities, including attendance at special education review meetings and school visits.

The attorney will also be responsible for providing training and technical assistance to parents and a range of non-profits to build the capacity of these individuals and organizations to address educational issues. The attorney will also work on policy analysis, research, and advocacy or litigation related to students and their families. Specifically, the position will include:

1) providing case services and legal representation to clients;

2) performing outreach and providing workshops, which may occasionally occur on nights and weekends, to parents, youth and professionals about their rights to attend school and receive adequate educational services;

3) promoting inter-agency coordination to facilitate better delivery of educational services; and

4) supporting ongoing policy advocacy work on English Language Learner and immigrant student issues.

AFC prefers applications from lawyers with at least 1 – 3 years of experience. For more information on application instructions and qualifications, visit PSJD.org (log-in required)!