SOCIAL WORKER, IMMIGRATION

Brooklyn Legal Services (BLS) seeks a full-time Social Worker (MSW) for its Immigrants’ Rights and Advocacy Project (IRAP).  IRAP’s legal-social work interdisciplinary team uses a holistic, trauma-informed collaborative advocacy model to provide free immigration legal services to low-income New Yorkers.  IRAP’s work includes removal defense, affirmative and defensive asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (including family court), family-based petitions, naturalization, VAWA, U-non-immigrant status, T-nonimmigrant status, and more. While the IRAP Social Worker position is funded to provide case management for children involved in immigration removal proceedings, the Social Worker will provide supportive services to all clients as needed and feasible. The Social Worker will provide advocacy regarding housing, public benefits, and other related needs. The Social Worker will work directly with attorneys to help prepare and support legal cases. All staff social workers at LSNYC have access to up to 4 hours a month of clinical supervision through an independent consultant.

BLS is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) and provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn’s diverse low-income population. LSNYC’s mission is to fight poverty and seek racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country. Our staff of over 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients — preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic violence, advocating for the disabled, and working with immigrant clients to adjust, maintain, and defend their immigration status. 

LSNYC prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts.  As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore and advocate for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal work.  All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand, and work to realize our DEIB goals. LSNYC provides numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including funding for continuing education (CE) hours. 

Responsibilities 

The Social Worker’s responsibilities include: 

• Working as part of an interdisciplinary team in addressing the client’s legal and social needs and assisting clients in understanding the legal process; 

• Providing supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and referrals to culturally- appropriate services in order to address client needs; 

• Conducting client interviews, meeting with advocates, reviewing documents, and gathering information to create an assessment and care plan that addresses medical, mental health, housing, employment, education, and social service needs; 

• Identifying, establishing, and maintaining relationships with social service and Assisting clients with public benefits applications and navigating systems;

• medical providers needed to assist our clients; 

• Providing psychosocial assessments, letters of support, and advocacy letters for clients to be submitted to USCIS, EOIR, New York State courts, or other government agencies; 

• Accompanying clients to court or to appointments with federal agencies and assisting with trauma-informed client preparation; 

• Appearing in court and testifying on behalf of clients regarding psychosocial assessments; 

• Attending community events and providing community education and trainings; 

• Creating written/visual/etc. resources for clients, advocates, and BLS staff;

• Obtaining SIFI certification, once eligible, and supervising MSW graduate students; and 

• Preparing data reports, as necessary. 

Qualifications

• Master of Social Work degree (and licensure within 90 days of hiring); 

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and commitment to working with low-income clients; 

• Experience working with populations who have experienced complex and ongoing trauma; 

• Strong cultural awareness and deep understanding of the needs and challenges facing immigrants in NYC; 

• Experience working with immigrant clients (preferred);

• Experience working with children and young people (preferred); 

• Experience working with LGBTQ+ clients (preferred);

• Experience working as a social worker in a legal environment (preferred);

• Familiarity with New York City (NYC) institutions and social service systems (preferred);

• Excellent interpersonal skills;

• Outstanding organizational, planning, and time management skills;

• Excellent writing, communication, and oral presentation skills;

• Proficiency in computer programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.;

• Deep understanding of and ability to work well with people of diverse national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds; 

• Proficiency or Fluency in Spanish or other language(s) commonly spoken by our client communities (preferred).

How to Apply

Interested individuals should email a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples to:

Bkhiring@lsnyc.org

Please write “IRAP Social Worker" in the subject line

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.

BLS offers an excellent benefits package and a highly competitive public interest salary. We offer excellent benefits, including health, dental, and vision plans; contributions to a 403(b) plan; and generous leave time. Salary is commensurate with experience (determined by Collective Bargaining Agreement).

Brooklyn Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer: people of color; women; people with disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; and people over the age of 40 are welcome and encouraged to apply.  We are committed to race, gender, and economic justice in our work and within our workplace.  Staff members who are not managers are members of the LSSA/NOLSW UAW Local 2320.

All employees/volunteers/interns are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

Job#37_2024; Posted 3.2024

Salary Range (Based on years’ experience):

• 1-10 years: $62,805 -$85,108

• 11-20 years: $87,256 - $104,721

• 21+ years: $109,961 - $120,073