Project Assistant

Community Law Project Legal Assistant

Sanctuary for Families is New York's leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence. Every year, Sanctuary empowers thousands of adults and children to move from fear and abuse to safety and stability, transforming lives through a comprehensive range of services. We provide a range of wrap-around services to help survivors rebuild their lives in the aftermath of abuse, and work to end gender violence through three key strategies: direct services, outreach and training, and systems-change advocacy. Our services are available in 12 locations throughout New York City.

The Community Law Project provides comprehensive, culturally competent and bi-lingual legal services to survivors of gender-based violence through direct representation, outreach and training, systems-change advocacy, and intra-agency promotion of activities and projects that enhance Sanctuary's mission.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing legal center clients with court accompaniment, financial assistance grant preparation and pro-se assistance;
• Providing support to attorneys on cases including trial preparation, court accompaniment, document preparation and review and filing of court documents;
• Coordinating and participating in community based legal clinics;
• Providing support to staff attorneys on the legal center's helpline;
• Facilitating clients' access to intra-agency and outside resources, administering provision of direct financial assistance and donations to clients;
• Referring survivors of domestic and gender based violence to appropriate legal and social services within and outside of Sanctuary for Families;
• Fostering and maintaining relationships with community-based organizations (CBOs) that refer clients to the helpline;
• Collaborating with volunteers, interns and pro bono attorneys;
• Serving on various agency committees focusing on training coordination and collaboration for potential survivors of gender based violence;
• Coordinating and attending outreach events, panel presentations and professional trainings;
• Working on CLP's client communication initiative including creating monthly newsletter, webinars and podcasts;
• Other duties as assigned to support the project, the deputy director, and sanctuary's clients

Requirements include:

• Bachelor's degree or relevant work experience;
• Proactive, efficient, accurate, and highly organized self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment; able to juggle multiple priorities;
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; confident public speaker;
• Knowledge of the legal system and its impact on individuals from marginalized communities;
• Computer literacy (including MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Adobe);
• Experience with office systems (e.g. document management, filing, etc.);
• High level of integrity and professionalism;
• Proficiency in a community language, including Spanish, Mandarin, Urdu, Korean or French-Creole is preferred but not required.

Budgeted salary: $29.73 - $32.84 per hour (annualized base salary of $54,108 - $59,769); based on experience pursuant to wage step scale in accordance with collective bargaining agreement.

Work position is full-time (standard 35 hours/week), hourly/non-exempt. Work schedule is currently hybrid; must be able to meet agency's job location schedule obligation.

Benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer retirement contribution
• Paid time off (holidays, vacation, personal, sick)
• Generous leave policy
• Flexible spending account / health savings account
• Student loan assistance
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Gym reimbursement program
• Wellness program and rewards

Sanctuary for Families is a welcoming workplace. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status or domestic violence victim status, and other categories protected under Federal, New York state or New York city laws.

Survivors of gender-based violence are strongly encouraged to apply.