Referral Counselor (Legal) - Bilingual (English/Spanish) at NYC Bar Association New York, NY

Overview

Referral Counselor (Legal Non-Profit) - Bilingual (English/Spanish) – NYC Bar Association. New York, NY. Remote work opportunity - Full-time. FLSA Status: Exempt. Start Date: January 5, 2026.

The New York City Bar Association (City Bar), founded in 1870, is a voluntary association of lawyers and law students. The City Bar’s mission is to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest in our community, our nation, and throughout the world.

The Position

Do you enjoy finding ways to help others who need legal assistance? Would you like to work remotely from your home 100% of the time (with the option to attend a few in-person meetings per year)? We are in the business of public service. For more than 75 years, we have made it our mission to help individuals and businesses find the right lawyer to meet their legal needs. The New York City Bar Legal Referral Service (LRS), established in 1946, is the oldest lawyer referral service in New York State and the first in New York City approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Candidates must have a J.D. from a law school in the U.S. Candidates do not need to be licensed to practice law, as this position does not provide any legal advice or represent clients in any capacity.

Areas of Responsibility

• Respond to high volume of calls and emails from the general public
• Triage legal issues and direct clients to participating lawyers and other legal resources
• Provide basic legal information to the public
• Achieve and maintain general knowledge of New York law and legal resources available to New Yorkers
• Other duties, including research, public relations, marketing and public outreach, as assigned

Qualifications/Skills/Requirements

• J.D. or LLM from alaw school in the U.S.
• General knowledge of New York law and legal resources available to New Yorkers, preferred
• Bilingual in English and Spanish language
• At least one year of employment in a legal environment/organization
• Excellent phone manner, customer service and written/verbal communication skills
• Must be able to deal effectively with challenging individuals
• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations
• Strong PC skills, including Microsoft Office 365 products
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S.

Compensation/Benefits

Starting annualized salary will be $55,000 - $60,000 (based on experience) for full-time employment (generally working 35 hours/week). The LRS Department at the City Bar is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time zone) and is closed daily from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Starting/ending time varies by schedule assigned.

We provide a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays including closing between Christmas and New Year’s day, day off each year for volunteer work, some extra time off in summer if employment begins no later than June), choice of medical plans, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, employee discounts, and complimentary City Bar membership and access to CLE programs and events.

How to Apply

To apply, complete the questionnaire and submit a resume. It is recommended that qualified candidates also submit a cover letter explaining your interest in this role. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and unique experiences to apply, especially those from historically under-represented communities. The Organization is committed to equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, caregiver status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and related laws as applicable.