ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to low-income clients in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester.
LawNY® has been providing high quality legal representation for 54 years, and today has over 180 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and a legal support team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing legal issues affecting our clients and community.
LawNY® is committed to equitable inclusion across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, sex, religion, economic circumstances, ethnicity, national origin, and culture. We are increasingly committed to creating a law firm where race equity, diversity and cultural competency are integral components of our work, from client advocacy to internal operations.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Rochester office of LawNY® seeks to fill an immediate opening for a Fair Housing Testing Coordinator. Fair Housing Testing is a method of investigating potential violations of Fair Housing laws in housing that is in violation of fair housing laws. Fair Housing Testing Coordinators at LawNY® design and implement testing methods to identify and report instances of housing discrimination. The Coordinator must be available to work outside normal business hours on occasion to conduct outreach and work with testers.
We encourage applicants with a wide range of experience to apply. The ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how housing discrimination affects low-income communities and intersects with social and economic justice. LawNY® Paralegal and Coordinator staff work in a cooperative environment, and all staff members are expected to assist other staff members to achieve the general purposes of their program. Testing coordinators play a critical role in realizing LawNY®’s vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
ABOUT ROCHESTER
The Rochester office serves Monroe County which is located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario and serves as a gateway to the Finger Lakes region of Western New York. Rochester is an early industrial boomtown with progressive roots in the abolitionist and women’s rights movements, home to historic residents like Susan B. Anthony and Fredrick Douglass and business giants Kodak and Xerox.
Rochester culture is informed by a vibrant music scene, beautiful parks, and frequent arts festivals and a booming number of new restaurants, breweries, and public markets. The Erie Canal towpath and Genesee Riverway trails also offer miles of rich history and outdoor adventure. Notable nearby museums include the Strong National Museum of Play, Memorial Art Gallery, and the George Eastman Museum.
Rochester has an average cost of living and accessible transportation options including dedicated bike lanes, safe sidewalks, and public transit. The current housing market is moderately competitive with a median home sale price of $140,000 and 1 bedroom apartments available for around $1000/month.
QUALIFICATIONS These are the basic requirements for the position.
- Associate’s Degree and/or a combination of education and relevant work experience.
- Prior experience working with low-income and other oppressed communities and clients.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work under deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
- Ability to work independently and stay organized.
- Computer proficiency, particularly with Microsoft Programs and Google Suite.
RESPONSIBILITIES These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.
- Design systemic and compliant-based testing.
- Recruit fair housing and fair lending testers.
- Design and conduct tester training sessions.
- Preserve and control evidence.
- Prepare investigative reports and an analysis of each test conducted.
- Maintain detailed case records and assist with reporting.
- Develop specialized knowledge in fair housing and fair lending law to support litigation.
- Participate in LawNY workgroups as well as attend training sessions to keep abreast of current developments in fair housing law.
ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities. LawNY® encourages each candidate to think about their own personal knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as professional skills and experience in relation to this list.
- An understanding of the concepts of structural and institutional racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
- Lived experience with our client communities.
- True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.
COMPENSATION
Salary is dependent on experience and based on a pay scale with annual increments. The beginning salary for a Paralegal/Coordinator is $33,670 and the salary for a Paralegal/Coordinator with five years of experience is $39,420. LawNY® staff may also qualify for public interest law school loan forgiveness programs.
LawNY® provides an excellent package of fringe benefits including 94% employer paid health insurance with significant HSA contributions, 100% employer paid dental and disability insurance, vision coverage, and $50,000 automatic life insurance as well as generous leave provisions including, in the first year of employment, 20 days of vacation plus 13.5 holidays and two floating holidays. Employees also receive 12 sick days and five personal days per year. New parents receive 20 days of paid new parent leave.
LawNY® is committed to providing a work-life balance to their employees. We encourage and support a 35 hour work week to ensure our employees have this balance. We also offer a remote work policy where new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week during their 6 month probationary period with manager approval. This may increase to 5 days per week once successfully finished with a probationary period with manager approval.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, and three references through LawNY®’s BambooHR platform, found here and at www.lawny.org/Employment. When outlining work experience on a resume, candidates are requested to label each position as full-time or part-time and identify unpaid volunteer/internships.
To promote social justice and achieve our mission, LawNY® is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and creating an inclusive and respectful workplace. In your cover letter, please also include an explanation of how you think that your lived and/or professional experience or background has prepared you to contribute to support a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at LawNY®.
Questions or Accommodations? Contact Sandra Coyne at scoyne@lawny.org
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is an equal opportunity employer. LawNY® strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and persons from other underrepresented groups whose background may contribute to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. 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 Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act. |