Workplace Justice Paralegal

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 27,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants' rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace, currently negotiating its first Collective Bargaining Agreement.

MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more.

LEGAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES AT MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK:

The Department of Legal and Support Services at MRNY works to strengthen the organization's organizing work by (1) providing legal and support services to high-need immigrant communities and help meet the immediate needs of MRNY's members; (2) helping to envision and implement leverage strategies (including strategic litigation) that help win our organizing campaigns; and (3) providing technical legal support for policy work. The Department currently employs approximately 45 attorneys and advocates. Our legal team is integrated into all aspects of the organization's work.

Current Opening:

MRNY seeks a highly motivated, organized, and dedicated workplace justice paralegal to join our Workplace Justice Legal Team to support our work in the Port Richmond Staten Island, NY office. The workplace justice paralegal will be a key staff member contributing to the Workplace Justice Team's vision, delivering application support and legal services to primarily Spanish-speaking clients. Currently, our offices are open and employees work on a hybrid remote and in-person model.

Our Workplace Justice Team handles a wide range of employment-related legal matters facing our members and provides strategic support on statewide worker organizing. Casework will include providing general support on issues of wage theft, employment discrimination, accessing workers' compensation benefits, health & safety issues on the job, and expanding workers' rights protections.

Key Responsibilities but not Limited to:

• Reaching out to prospective clients and scheduling prospective client meetings;

• Conduct preliminary intake with clients and gather information to assess eligibility for forms of legal relief;

• Collect and review/analyze documents electronically or by other means;

• Assist clients to fill out online applications and respond to requests for additional information, including assisting to obtain information and documents when necessary, and following up with clients via phone/text, email and regular mail

• Perform initial analysis of facts, and manage subsequent correspondence with clients and other parties including administrative agencies to track case progress;

• Data entry in internal and external data management systems according to team's workflow system, including Salesforce and Connect;

• Maintain case data and files and cooperate with data entry and reporting requirements;

• Handle an employment law caseload that involves a range of advocacy, and may include direct negotiation with employers, drafting demand letters, and assisting workers file administrative complaints;

• Conduct Know Your Rights workshops both internally and externally at partner organizations and community events;

• Create know your rights materials for clients, coalition partners, and community members;

• Provide translation and interpretation for clients, members, and in organizational and coalition support;

• Help maintain workplace justice legal team policies and priorities; and

• Participate in workplace justice team, legal department and organization wide meetings.

Requirements:

• Eligible to work in the U.S

• Required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine prior first day of employment.

• Possess a commitment to collective action and community organizing.

• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus/not required/mandatory.

• Have experience working in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic work environment

• Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber

• Experience and fluency using technology and software programs, including but not limited to computers, scanners, cell phones and related applications such as WhatsApp, Google Voice, Zoom, Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Salesforce, etc.

• Excellent writing skills and careful attention to detail

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

• Flexible schedule and availability for occasional evening and weekend work

• Experience working with or as a member of communities that make up major portions of MRNY's membership and client base: documented and undocumented immigrants, low-income workers, survivors of domestic violence, TGNCIQ people, those who have interacted with the criminal legal system, and youth

Preferred, but Not Required:

• Bachelor's Degree

• At least 1 year of experience as a paralegal, legal advocate, or case manager with at least 1 year of relevant experience with employment law topics, preferably wage and hour law.

• Interest in work supporting community organizing, campaigns, and policy and advocacy initiatives

Job Competencies:

• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail

• Be highly professional and team oriented with a passion for excellence and eagerness to help the department meet our goals.

• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment.

• Ability to work under pressure required.

• Have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, Microsoft Office suite, and using a database (ideally Salesforce) to run reports.

• Flexible work schedule, some evenings or weekends required

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary is based on a scale set by a democratically-elected personnel committee and will depend on factors such as experience and education. MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $50,591 to $60,591.

How to Apply:

Please attach your resume and cover letter and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center.

Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.