Description:

A High-Quality Education for New York Students 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 A High-Quality Education for New York Students, see www.advocatesforchildren.org.

A High-Quality Education for New York Students 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.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The attorney will primarily serve immigrant families of children with disabilities and English Language Learners (ELLs). Responsibilities include:

Representing parents at special education administrative hearings;
Assisting families with school related issues such as school enrollment, locating bilingual programs, and addressing bullying;
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;
Drafting and updating informational materials for immigrant parents;
Researching and conducting outreach to organizations that provide services to immigrant communities; and
Participating in school meetings and school visits.

Minimum Qualifications:

Understanding of and alignment with A High-Quality Education for New York Students's mission. Please review A High-Quality Education for New York Students's work at advocatesforchildren.org.
A Juris Doctor degree.
Fluency in Spanish with ability to converse with students/families whose first language is Spanish.
0-4 years of legal experience.
Ability to effectively engage across cultures, identities, and ethnicities, particularly Latinx and immigrant families.
Able to engage with a variety of audiences that include parents, community partners, and New York City Public Schools staff.
Strong presentation skills and comfort with public speaking.
Organized, detail oriented, and able to work independently on tasks and deliverables.
Strong writing ability, including crafting legal documents and written communications to key stakeholders.
Ability to multi-task and respond to changing needs.
Collaborative approach to working with teammates and partners.
Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
Admission to the NY State bar preferred.