Project Coordinator (Bilingual), Immigrant Justice Project FLSA: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Immigrant Justice Project Directors
The City Bar Justice Center (CBJC) seeks an enthusiastic and organized individual who is committed to equal access to justice to join our team as a Project Coordinator (paralegal) for our Immigrant Justice Project. CBJC annually provides high-quality, free civil legal services benefiting over 25,000 New Yorkers who lack the resources to hire private counsel. CBJC also relies on partnerships with the City Bar, law firms, corporate legal departments, the courts, and other stakeholders. In the past year, over 2,000 pro bono attorneys donated services to support clinics and client matter work drawn from CBJC's dozen civil legal services projects.
The City Bar Justice Center's Immigrant Justice Project (IJP) assists asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their home countries, survivors of violent crimes and trafficking here in the United States, and individuals seeking humanitarian protection and other forms of immigration relief. We match many CBJC immigration clients with pro bono attorneys and provide mentoring and guidance throughout the representation, as well as hold legal assistance clinics, know your rights presentations, and other trainings.
The Project Coordinator works closely with and under the supervision of IJP's two attorney directors to handle the following areas of responsibility, among others: Serve as the first point of contact for immigrants seeking legal assistance, conducting eligibility screening and client interviews and providing case assessment support.
Carefully maintain client and volunteer databases and diligently track case statistics.
Assist in the preparation of grant applications / reports and other fundraising activities.
Provide administrative help by answering phones and setting up client appointments, while also providing caring follow-up to clients, who typically seek our assistance at very vulnerable moments in their lives.
Provide organizational and logistical support for both virtual and in-person training programs, legal clinics, and community outreach events.
Conduct research and draft initial applications under the supervision of IJP attorneys.
Liaise with attorney volunteers from large firms and corporate legal departments.
Other City Bar Justice Center administrative work, including with other CBJC Projects, as needed.
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS Bachelor's degree or substantially equivalent work experience in a professional setting.
Minimum 6 months of work experience (relevant internships acceptable).
Spanish fluency required—written and spoken.
Strong data-entry, organizational and project management skills; high attention to detail; ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment; excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable communicating both by telephone and in direct contact with the public; self-starter with a record showing (or a demonstrable capacity for) consistent professional timeliness and reliability.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, and the ability to quickly learn and effectively use LegalServer and other technology.
A team player with demonstrated enthusiasm for public interest legal work, serving communities that are under-resourced, and advancing racial equity and social and economic justice is required, as are a desire and capacity to engage with clients in a respectful and sensitive way, many of whom suspect institutions and the legal profession, and some of whom experience legal problems compounded by mental health struggles, and the ability to interact respectfully with people of different backgrounds and perspectives on the justice system, including fellow staff members, volunteer attorneys, and court staff and other government employees.
We are looking for candidates who are willing to make a minimum commitment of two years to the Project Coordinator role and can start as soon as possible. Candidates for this position must be available for in-person work at our Midtown Manhattan office on a hybrid schedule requiring roughly 2-3 days of scheduled in-office work per week, with the balance of time being work-from-home.
This is a Local 153, Office and Professional Employees International Union position, with a starting annualized salary of at least $50,000 based on a 35-hour workweek (with higher salaries in the range of $51,000-$59,500 dependent on 2-8+ years of prior relevant legal sector experience), and other benefits and employment terms and conditions in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement. The City Bar's competitive benefits package includes generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays, day off for volunteer work, extra time off in the summer), choice of medical plans (some offered at almost no cost to employee), dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, commuter benefits, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, employee discounts, and more!
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to sponsor visas for this position. To apply: Please send a cover letter detailing your interest in this position, and three professional business references (references will not be contacted prior to seeking applicant consent).
The City Bar Justice Center is a proud equal opportunity employer, and we particularly encourage applications from candidates belonging to communities historically under-represented in the legal profession. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and unique experiences to apply. We welcome diversity of all kinds. It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, arrest or conviction record, pregnancy, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, marital status, partnership status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, religion, sex, genetic information, military status, unemployment status or any other characteristic as protected by law. With regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws, the organization will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for persons due to their religious beliefs, disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition or because the individual was a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking.