Project Coordinator

POSITION: Project Coordinator                    
DEPARTMENT: City Bar Justice Center                   
POSITION REPORTS TO:   Project Director 
START DATE/LENGTH OF ROLE: Minimum 2 year commitment to the role 
GENERAL WORK HOURS: Full Time / 35 Hour workweek          
LOCATION: Hybrid/Midtown Manhattan 
FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt                         

The City Bar Justice Center furthers access to justice by addressing unmet civil legal needs of New Yorkers struggling with poverty and other systemic socioeconomic barriers. The Justice Center mobilizes law firms, corporate legal departments, and other legal institutions to provide pro bono legal services, educates the public on pertinent legal issues, fosters strategic community relationships, and impacts public policy.   

 
DEPARTMENT FUNCTION 
CBJC annually provides high-quality, free civil legal services benefiting over 27,000 New Yorkers who lack the resources to hire private counsel. CBJC also relies on partnerships with our affiliate, the New York City Bar Association, as well as with law firms, corporate legal departments, solo practitioners, law schools, the courts, and other stakeholders. Last year, over 2,200 pro bono attorneys donated services to support clinics and client work drawn from CBJC’s dozen civil legal services projects.  

 
JOB FUNCTION 
CBJC Project Coordinators work closely with and under the supervision of attorney Project Directors to handle the following areas of responsibility, among others, for a specific project (practice area): 

• Serve as the first point of contact for clients 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 legal research and draft initial papers or applications under the supervision of CBJC attorneys. 

• Liaise with attorney volunteers from large law firms and corporate legal departments. 

• As needed, provide general administrative support, including new programming within and across CBJC projects. 

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS 

• Bachelor’s degree or substantially equivalent work experience in a professional setting. 

• Minimum 6 months of work experience (relevant internships acceptable).  

• Strong data-entry, organizational and project management skills; high attention to detail. 

• 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. 

• Ability to connect with people from different backgrounds, and demonstrated enthusiasm for public interest legal work, serving communities that are under-resourced, and advancing racial equity and social and economic justice is required.  

• A team player with an ability to interact respectfully with clients, volunteer attorneys, government employees, and fellow staff members.  

• Two positions are presently open: for one we strongly prefer candidates with professional working proficiency in Spanish, and for the second proficiency in a non-English language is a plus. 

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to sponsor visas for this position. 

This position will have a hybrid work schedule requiring 2-3 days of scheduled in-office work per week and the balance of time working from home.. Occasional local travel for legal clinics or other program support may be required. 
 
This is a Local 153, Office and Professional Employees International Union position, with a starting annualized salary of at least $51,250 based on a 35-hour workweek (salary in the range from $52,250-$59,500 dependent on having 2-8+ years of directly relevant prior 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! 
 
To apply: Please submit a resume and tailored cover letter detailing your interest in this position. Finalists for the role will also be asked to submit three professional business references. 
 
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.