Staff Attorney, Court-Involved Youth - School Justice Project

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.

AFC grounds our work in our organization's values :

• Family-Centered : We listen to what families want for their children and empower them with information and support.
• Expertise : We ground our advocacy in more than 50 years of experience with the NYC public schools and deep knowledge of the legal and education systems affecting the students and families we serve.
• Passion : We are united by our unrelenting drive to dismantle obstacles to education and our unwavering dedication to NYC's students and families.
• Community : We foster collaboration and inclusive practices within our team and with outside partners so we can learn from different perspectives and unite in advancing our common goals.
• Justice : We view the law as a powerful tool to bridge gaps in access to education and help families from under-represented communities fight for their rights.
• Impact : We recognize that our value lies in the difference we make in the lives of students and their families and push ourselves to achieve concrete results.

JOB SUMMARY

Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) seeks a dedicated attorney to join the School Justice Project to provide direct representation, outreach, community education, and policy advocacy, to ensure that youth involved in the juvenile and / or criminal legal system have meaningful access to appropriate educational services during an unparalleled time of difficulty for them and their families. Given the evolving implementation of policies and programs for court-involved youth, the need for education advocacy by an attorney versed in the juvenile and / or criminal legal system is critical. This position will report to the Director of the School Justice Project.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Representation

Outreach and Training

Policy Advocacy

QUALIFICATIONS

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 – Court Involved Youth position, including any personal or professional experience that demonstrates your connection to the populations that AFC serves.

The position is available immediately, and resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position, with a salary in the range of $86,278 - $95,794, depending on experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

AFC is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and encourages all applications including 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.

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