Legal Advocate - Urban Justice Center

Legal Advocate

Urban Justice Center
New York, New York

The Urban Justice Center (UJC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of New York City�s most vulnerable residents. The mission of UJC�s Homelessness Outreach & Prevention Project (HOPP) is to advocate for economic justice for no and low income New Yorkers. We conduct direct legal services, litigation, research and policy advocacy to preserve and expand access to public benefits programs and ensure government accountability. Direct services are based in legal clinics at soup kitchens and food pantries in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, where we provide legal advice, referrals, advocacy, and representation for New Yorkers living in poverty.

We seek a legal advocate to represent individuals experiencing legal problems in accessing public benefits such as cash assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, and eviction prevention grants. Responsibilities include interviewing individual clients to determine their needs; helping clients understand the government public benefits system; writing extensive referrals; staffing our legal clinics, which are housed at food pantries and soup kitchens throughout New York City; representing clients at fair hearings; engaging in advocacy with Cash Assistance and Non-Cash Assistance Centers; and conducting all work necessary to ensure on-going receipt of public benefits for the advocate�s clients. Additionally, once the advocate is trained, s/he will help train advocates in the community and internally.

Successful candidates must have strong organizational and administrative skills, the ability to quickly learn about a complex system, endless patience, an aptitude for tenacious negotiation, and the ability to respond sensitively to the urgent needs of clients. A college degree is required and strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. Recent college graduates, as well as those with experience will be considered. Fluency in Spanish is highly desired.

People of color, LGBT individuals, individuals who have personal experience with poverty, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Salary is from the low- to mid-$30k's, commensurate with experience, and generous vacation and full medical and dental benefits are provided.

To Apply: Please do not contact us by telephone or fax. We will contact those applicants who we wish to interview. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Please submit a cover letter detailing public interest experience/interest, a resume, a brief writing sample, and a list of references via email by January 5, 2009 to:

Urban Justice Center
E-mail: hopp@urbanjustice.org