Paralegal

Youth Represent is seeking a full-time Paralegal with 0 – 3 years' experience to join our team, with a start date in May 2024. We are a youth defense and advocacy non-profit organization looking for a bright and energetic individual with an interest in youth and the law to provide legal and administrative support that aligns with our commitment to social and racial justice. To live true to our values, we provide comprehensive legal representation, community support, education, and policy advocacy to our clients and broader community network throughout NYC.   

As a small team of community lawyers, our work is different from what you would expect at a traditional legal services organization. Our work is innovative, collaborative, and shifts with the ever changing and expanding needs of our youth. As a result, this position requires someone who is self-motivated and driven to problem solve issues as they arise with great independence. This is an exciting position for someone who wants to do legal work, but also has a passion for working directly with young people, playing an instrumental role in cultivating trust and building authentic relationships with them.   

The person who will best succeed in this role:  

• Truly enjoys collaboration – Which means working alongside the team and assisting in many facets of a legal case. Formal paralegal experience is not necessary; though a background in working with system impacted youth, specifically helping youth navigate and access community resources, is ideal. 
• Feels a real sense of ownership to get things done as a partner to the team – This person sees it as their responsibility to meet the immediate needs of our clients with great responsiveness and flexibility. They view their role as integral to the overall success in meeting our clients’ goals.  
• Thrives in handling multiple projects and tasks simultaneously - The day-to-day tasks are not routine and this person will find themselves doing various tasks - from data entry to managing client communications to helping an attorney navigate a novel area of law.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and able to problem solve independently. 
• Commitment to Diversity Equity, Inclusion (DEI) - Applies an introspective DEI lens when considering one’s actions and biases when working with Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), including clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Centers and values a client’s agency and individual capacity to determine what is best for them 

General Paralegal Responsibilities:  

• Conduct client intake meetings, facilitate legal workshops, and retrieve records of arrest and prosecution (RAP Sheets) at Youth Represent offices, community-based organizations, schools, and agencies across New York City and Westchester County.
• Coordinate and conduct new client intakes through various outreach platforms--including phone hotline, online chat service, and email referrals
• Independently research and navigate complex social service systems including administrative agencies that provide housing, benefits, education, and employment services
• Obtain, review, and summarize court records and obtain clients’ criminal histories and summarize them in our client database
• Conduct searches on clients’ criminal court cases through OCA (Office of Court Administration) database for open warrants, next court appearances, and case dispositions
• Correct errors on criminal history records with local and state entities
• Perform research and draft legal memorandums
• Assist youth in obtaining Certificates of Relief, Certificates of Good Conduct and Certificate of Dispositions from criminal courts throughout NYC
• Support attorneys on Name Change petitions for Transgender and GNC clients, and update identification documents (Social Security Card, Benefits Cards) post-name change
• Draft, edit, serve and file documents, including motions, and complaints/petitions
• Other duties and administrative tasks as needed and determined by senior staff 

NOTE: Current COVID-19 Protocols 

• All interviews will be conducted remotely.
• Our Manhattan office is now open and operating on a hybrid in-person and remote model. 

Salary Range & Benefits Package  

• Salary for this position is $49,405 - $53,671, commensurate with 0-3 years' experience
• Benefits include health insurance, vision and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and parental leave policy. We also offer four weeks of paid vacation and nine holidays, and we close the office the week between Christmas and New Years. 

Union: 

• This position is a member of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys-UAW Local 2325. 

How to Apply: 

Interested applicants should click on the following link to apply: https://shorturl.at/coBTY

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with a priority deadline of April 22, 2024. Applications without cover letters that directly address the candidate’s fit with the key qualifications will not be considered. 

Youth Represent is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating a truly equitable and anti-oppressive workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities and experiences. We particularly encourage applicants from marginalized communities, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, and those directly impacted by the differing legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting a hiring process that is equitable and accessible to all.