Senior Staff Attorney, Education Advocacy

Overview

Center for Family Representation Inc. (CFR) is an award-winning, innovative law and policy organization that serves primarily Black and Brown families and youth in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island with an interdisciplinary legal defense model that serves more than 2400 clients every year. CFR was founded in 2002 to change the trajectory of indigent parents being prosecuted by the City's Administration for Children's Services (ACS). Our goal is to defend and protect our clients' rights, reduce the harm of family separation and minimize the time any child spends in the foster system.

About CFR : CFR provides interdisciplinary family defense with a model that assigns every client an attorney and a social work staff member, supported by parent advocates who have direct personal experience of ACS investigations and prosecutions. Early Defense represents parents during a child protective investigation to avoid court involvement where possible. CFR's Youth Defense practice (YDP) defends youth at risk of family separation through incarceration, using the same interdisciplinary model to represent youth in Supreme Court Youth Parts, Probation Adjustment, and Family Court. The Home for Good program provides legal and social work services across immigration, civil legal services, and criminal defense to offer a coordinated one-stop solution to issues threatening family stability. CFR trains practitioners and conducts Know Your Rights presentations, advocating for policies to reduce family separation and promote parent engagement and justice for youth and families.

The Senior Staff Attorney, Education Advocacy will represent CFR clients and their families in educational matters, advocate for preferred educational outcomes, support CFR's Early Defense practice, and provide trainings. This position is full time and supervised by the Supervising Attorney of Policy and Early Defense. An Early Defense focus is expected, with collaboration across Family Defense and other practice areas.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities may include but are not limited to :

• Direct Client Representation
• Maintain a docket of education cases in CFR practice areas and boroughs determined on a case-by-case basis
• Support CFR clients in initiating and obtaining appropriate early intervention or special education evaluations
• Review evaluations and IEPs
• Attend IEP meetings and advocate for appropriate services
• File Impartial Hearing Requests to obtain evaluations, services, and school placements
• Challenge exclusionary school discipline through litigation and mediation
• Assist students and families transitioning into and out of the foster system with educational challenges including school stability
• Consult with and advise early defense and family defense staff on educational issues
• Support CFR staff in obtaining early intervention and OPWDD eligibility for clients and their children
• Community Advocacy and Engagement
• Participate in Know-Your-Rights events and training for partner organizations and DOE staff
• Represent CFR in coalitions and external stakeholder meetings
• Assist with external legal education, including workshops, materials, and outreach to service providers
• Practice Stewardship
• Collaborate with leadership to manage internal tracking and referral systems
• Participate in management meetings about Early Defense, Education Advocacy, and agency practices
• Collaborate with CFR wraparound and other practice areas (criminal, immigration, civil defense)
• Work with Fiscal and Development Departments to provide reports to funders and troubleshoot contractual issues
• Assist in developing new practice areas and ensure integration with CFR
• Deliver written and oral communications to staff about practice and administrative issues

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Salary & Benefits

Annualized salary : $100,800 (L3) – $124,900 (L13). CFR offers a competitive base salary plus health, 403(b), and vacation benefits. CFR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to create an inclusive, antiracist environment. Internal promotions use the staff member's current salary level placement plus the appropriate stipend where applicable.

Location, Travel, and How to Apply

Location : CFR is primarily in-person; roles are not office-bound and may be seated at any CFR office with approval. CFR has offices in New York, Bronx, Queens, and Richmond Counties, with a telecommuting policy when not in-person. Travel to client boroughs, conferences, and events may be required.

How to Apply : Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume through CFR's Career Portal.

J-18808-Ljbffr