Racial Justice and Re-Entry Paid Summer Law Fellowship

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK

RACIAL JUSTICE AND RE-ENTRY PAID SUMMER LAW FELLOWSHIP

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking to hire a paid Summer Diversity Fellow help overcome the adverse impacts of criminal records and justice system involvement on communities of color. The position is located in Albany, NY, the state capital, and a lively family friendly city with a reasonable cost of living, excellent quality of life, and easy access to major metropolitan areas as well as year-round outdoor opportunities.

Our mission is to fight for fairness, dignity, and justice for those living in poverty and for a society which is inclusive and equitable for all. We transform lives, build community and empower people by using the law to address individual and systemic wrongs and inequities.

We seek a Summer Diversity Fellow who will be dedicated to our mission and will seek justice and fairness for communities of color adversely impacted by justice system involvement. We are skilled, creative and compassionate advocates combining a passion to serve with the skills and will to address both individual and systemic injustice. Our office is a collegial and supportive workplace, encouraging and supporting staff development. We take pride in providing holistic services to our clients with a wide range of programs and substantive law expertise. We are an integral part of the legal and human service community.

LASNNY is looking to hire a paid Summer Diversity Fellow in our Albany office, serving Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties. The goal of the Diversity Summer Fellowship is to help overcome the adverse and disproportionate civil and financial impacts of criminal records and justice system involvement on communities of color. The Diversity Fellow, working closely and collaboratively with a Senior Attorney and the Deputy Director of Strategic Operations, will provide legal assistance to individuals who need help sealing or correcting their criminal records and/or obtaining certificates of relief to remove barriers to employment, occupational licensing, education and other economic opportunities. The Diversity Fellow will also assist with advocacy for persons who have faced discrimination in employment, occupational licensing, housing, or public benefits or other areas because of justice system involvement. The Diversity Fellow will help with place-based legal services and projects, including helping to coordinate know-your-rights trainings and legal clinics in our office and at partner organizations in the Arbor Hill, West Hill and South End Neighborhoods in Albany as well as in Schenectady and Rensselaer Counties.

Requirements: Current law student or recent graduate. Position is full time 35 hours per week for 10 - 12 weeks. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to helping low income and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to access employment, safety, housing and income supports. Must be intelligent, hardworking, careful, reliable, have good judgment, attention to detail and a demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to the low-income community. Must be able to communicate well with low income people, and effectively with staff, work independently and efficiently and be able to problem solve and work collaboratively with community partner agency staff. Training or experience in community lawyering or community organizing, and demonstrated strong listening and relationship building skills, experience, creativity and willingness to use varied legal and non-legal advocacy tools to advance community identified initiatives preferred. Must be willing to travel throughout the service area and have a car and a clean valid New York driver's license. Strong computer, administrative, reporting and data entry skills required. Ability to speak Spanish a plus. Applicants with personal or other experience with the criminal justice system are also strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary: $17 per hour

Application Deadline: March 9, 2020

Any applications that do not have a cover letter, resume and writing sample will not be considered.

To apply, please go to www.lasnny.org OR

1) Complete the Application linked here, or the mobile-friendly application linked here
2) Complete the Demographic Survey linked here

We are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, the elderly, LGBT persons, applicants and recipients of public assistance, people with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.