Organization:
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.
Fellowship:
Equal Justice Works New York State Family Security Project (Based in Geneva and
Jamestown, New York)
Legal
Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) is hosting
a one-year fellowship sponsored by Equal Justice Works designed to foster
family security and community education through the provision of immigration
legal services. The attorneys selected for the Fellowship will be housed in the
Geneva and Jamestown, NY offices of LawNY. Per Equal JusticeWorks/AmeriCorps
guidelines, the fellowship must begin no later than December 16, 2017 and will last
for one year.
Fellowship Description: The Equal
Justice Works New York State Family Security Project Legal Fellow will:
- Represent clients in immigration court and
before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Provide screening and intake
- Prepare immigration applications
- Provide brief legal advice and legal aid
- Educate the community on the impact of
evolving immigration law and policy
- Engage pro bono attorneys to provide legal
assistance to immigrants and their families
- Other administrative tasks related to
AmeriCorps and Equal Justice Works program compliance
- Position is a one-year Fellowship,
with a possible one-year extension contingent upon continued AmeriCorps
funding.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have the following:
- The ability to undergo and pass
AmeriCorps-mandated criminal background checks (only conviction for murder
and/or presence on sex offender registry are automatic bars to service;
other criminal convictions are allowable pursuant to Equal Justice Works
review and approval)
- A demonstrated commitment to public interest
work and strong desire to assist indigent clients
- Strong writing,
communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
- The ability work
collaboratively in a variety of contexts
- Prior experience in managing
independent projects or assignments
- Law school clinic,
externship, summer or other relevant practice experience a plus
- The ability to begin the
fellowship no later than December 16, 2017.
- Applicants should be
admitted to practice in New York or recent law school graduates who have
sat for the NYS bar examination
- Those with experience in
regards to immigration issues strongly encouraged to apply
- Willingness to attend a
mandatory substantive immigration law training in New York City in January
2018, as well as the mandatory Equal Justice Works Leadership Development
Training in Washington, DC in October 2018 (Note that travel costs for
these trainings will be covered by Equal Justice Works)
Compensation:
The
Fellow will receive an annual living allowance of $24,930, as well as financial
support of up to $16,070 for housing, student loan repayment, and other
permissible reimbursable living expenses.
Additionally, Fellows receive an education award of $5,815 upon
successful completion of service.
Other
Benefits Provided by Legal Assistance of
Western New York, Inc.:
- Health insurance, for
Fellows who are not otherwise covered
- Position related travel
reimbursement provided
- Opportunities to participate
in a variety of local and regional skills based and substantive trainings
Other
Benefits and Professional Opportunities offered by AmeriCorps:
- Student loan forbearance and
interest accrual payment upon successful completion of service
- Opportunity to attend
national trainings focused on leadership, networking, and project
development sponsored by Equal Justice Works
- Childcare assistance (if
income eligible)
Organization Description:
Legal
Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) is a
not-for-profit law firm providing free legal services to eligible clients in
civil cases through seven regional offices covering a fourteen county area in
Western New York.
Application Instructions:
Applicants should submit a cover letter describing
qualifications, resume, writing sample and the name and contact information for
three references by November 13, 2017 to ensure full consideration.
Applications will be accepted beyond that date until the position is
filled. Applications should be addressed
to Thomas Dubel, Deputy Director, and sent to the following e-mail address: lawnyapplications@lawny.org. Applications will be reviewed as they are
submitted. The Equal Justice Works
AmeriCorps Fellow is scheduled to begin the term of service no later than
December 16, 2017.
Legal
Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY) is an equal opportunity
employer. LawNY encourages applications from diverse candidates.
LawNY welcomes applications regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender
identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability,
genetic information or any other consideration protected by law. This
position is considered non-exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act. |