Staff Attorney, Postsecondary Readiness Project (PReP)

Advocates For Children (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 Postsecondary Readiness Project (PReP). PReP works to support and advocate for NYC students and families struggling to gain appropriate services to complete their high school education and transition to postsecondary life. This position reports to the Project Director of PReP.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The attorney will primarily serve high-school-aged students with disabilities and their families. Responsibilities include:

• Representing parents at special education administrative hearings;
• Participating in school meetings and school visits;
• Assisting families with school-related issues such as inappropriate special education placements and services, enrollment, school discipline, locating transition support programs, and transition planning from high school to post-secondary opportunities;
• Providing know-your-rights trainings to families, community organizations, and service providers on transition planning, graduation requirements, and post-secondary opportunities;
• Supporting ongoing policy advocacy efforts focusing on students with disabilities’ access to effective transition planning, inclusive high school programming, and post-secondary opportunities;
• Supporting the work of our citywide Transition Alliance by participating in meetings, preparing materials, providing strategic support, and completing related tasks as needed;
• Researching and conducting outreach to organizations that provide transition planning services; and
• Drafting and updating informational materials on transition planning, graduation requirements, and post-secondary options.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding of and alignment with AFC’s mission. Please review AFC’s work at advocatesforchildren.org;
• A Juris Doctor degree;
• Admission to the NY State bar preferred;
• 0-4 years of legal experience required;
• Experience in education or disability advocacy preferred;
• Spanish language fluency a plus;
• Ability to effectively engage across cultures, identities, and ethnicities;
• Strong presentation skills and comfort with public speaking;
• Able to engage with a variety of stakeholders that include parents, community partners, and New York City Public Schools staff;
• Organized, detail oriented, flexible and able to work independently;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively with teammates and partners;
• Strong writing ability;
• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates should submit a resume and cover letter highlighting 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 in education or disability advocacy that demonstrates their connection to the populations AFC serves. 

This is a full-time position, with a salary in the $78,280 to $86,572. range, depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.  

The position is available immediately, and resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the high volume of applicants, only qualified candidates will be contacted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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 currently offers a 403(b) plan with a fully vested employer match and coverage of the premium cost of life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance. 

Due to a high volume of applicants, only complete applications from qualified candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please. 

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. To request accommodations, please email HR@advocatesforchildren.org.