Position: Paralegal – Runaway Homeless Youth Clinic
Reports to: Deputy Director of Legal Services
The Door is an unparalleled model for youth development, offering a comprehensive range of integrated services within a single site for nearly nine thousand New York City youth each year. Our mission is to empower young adults to reach their full potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment. At The Door, youth can access health care and education, mental health counseling and crisis assistance, legal assistance, college preparation services, career development, housing supports, arts, sports and recreational activities, and nutritious meals – all for free and under one roof. By providing participants with our suite of integrated services, we seek to provide any motivated young person with the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to successfully transition to adulthood.
The Door’s Legal Services Center (LSC) advances the rights of youth by providing direct legal services in areas such as immigration, public benefits, family law, and housing. Situated within the larger Door community, the LSC addresses legal problems in a holistic and client-driven manner. The Paralegal will focus on supporting the weekly Runaway Homeless Youth legal clinic in connection with the LSC’s expansion to serve unhoused or unstably housed youth.
The Paralegal will assist in the screening of youth for eligibility for relief, draft advocacy letters, coordinate Know Your Rights Trainings and other legal clinics both on and off-site, maintain client files, and will support attorneys in their direct representation of NYC youth. The Paralegal will also work closely with the Deputy Director and Director of Legal Services on grant management and compliance.
Responsibilities:
- Support weekly drop-in legal clinic for runaway/homeless youth and additional limited scope clinics for youth
- Support the pro se SIJS project at Resources, Opportunities, Connections and Community (ROCC) through cross-referrals
- Provide translation and interpretation to Door staff
- Interview youth and review intakes to make determinations regarding eligibility for immigration relief
- Assist attorneys with immigration applications and cases
- Facilitate internal and external referrals to education, health care, and other services
- Assist with legal education efforts, including planning and conducting Know Your Rights workshops, producing legal education materials, and conducting outreach to social service and community-based organizations
- Document and report service delivery to ensure compliance with funding requirements
- Other responsibilities as assigned by Managing Attorney, Deputy Director and/or Director
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of paralegal or equivalent advocacy experience
- Interest in a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young people
- Excellent organizational skills, time management and record keeping skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Experience working with unhoused immigrant youth preferred
- Professional proficiency in French required
Work Schedule: Full time, 35 hours per week.
Salary: $54,000 - $64,000 annually
Multilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Proficiency in French, Spanish, or Arabic preferred.
COVID -19 POLICY
The Door and Broome Street Academy follow the CDC and NYS recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Door and Broome Street Academy are now requiring all new hires to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a qualified exemption.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
