Closing Date: 26th April, 2024
Description:
A 501 Non-Profit Legal Aid Provider Based in New York City's Juvenile Rights Practice (JRP) seeks an entry level staff attorney for the Kathryn A. McDonald Education Advocacy Project (EAP), which provides education advocacy to Legal Aid clients involved in New York City Family and Criminal Court.EAP's interdisciplinary staff consists of attorneys, social workers, and paralegals who work closely with staff of JRP and A 501 Non-Profit Legal Aid Provider Based in New York City's Criminal Defense Practice (CDP), parents, foster parents, child welfare staff, probation staff, school staff, and court personnel. EAP provides a wide range of services, including Early Intervention and special education advocacy for clients with disabilities, representation in school suspension proceedings, guidance on general education issues, assistance with educational transitions from incarceratory settings, trainings for parties involved in the child welfare, juvenile justice systems, and criminal justice systems, and systemic advocacy to protect and define the educational rights of court involved children and youth.
Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary practice, knowledge of education law and policies, and experience working with children, youth, and families who are involved in the child welfare, PINS and delinquency systems.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for JRP and CDP staff regarding a wide range of educational issues affecting children and youth involved in the child welfare and criminal justice systems
- Provide consultation and advice to both JRP and CDP staff members on a wide range of educational issues affecting school aged clients
- Collaborate with JRP staff, CDP Staff and other court players, particularly when educational issues are essential to resolution of the underlying court case
- Interview clients, caregivers, school personnel, medical and mental health professionals, and other relevant players
- Obtain and analyze educational records
- Assess clients' school functioning and special needs
- Visit and evaluate schools and other educational programs
- Advocate for clients at school meetings, special education meetings, and manifestation determination reviews
- Develop educational plans to meet client needs and court concerns
- Utilize negotiation and advocacy skills (both oral and written) to ensure that clients receive the educational services and placements to which they are entitled under federal and state law and regulations
- Represent clients in school suspension hearings, manifestation determination reviews, special education due process hearings and appeals
- Assist clients in obtaining appropriate educational services while incarcerated
- Facilitate appropriate educational transitions for children entering/exiting/changing foster homes and for clients of all ages entering/exiting incarceratory settings
- Assist clients in obtaining school transfers, access to credit-recovery programs, high school equivalency degree programs, vocational training programs and other specialized educational programs
- Assist with training various Family Court players about educational issues
- Assist with policy initiatives, as needed
- Other duties as assigned
- The position requires significant field work in all five boroughs
Requirements:
- Admission to the New York State Bar or Bar Exam Passage
- 1 to 3 years legal advocacy and or litigation experience
- Relevant clinical program or work experience preferred
- Commitment to children's issues and youth justice
- Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and serving racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities
- Ability to work effectively with children, adolescents, and their family members
- Strong written and oral advocacy skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in a high-volume practice
