What are the responsibilities and job description for the Workplace Justice Staff Attorney position at Make the Road?
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 28,000, 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.
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), 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."
Current Opening:
MRNY seeks a bilingual (Spanish & English), highly motivated, organized, and dedicated employment law attorney to join our Workplace Justice legal team. The position is full-time and will be based in our Bushwick, Brooklyn office. Our team currently includes 4 other experienced employment attorneys and 3 paralegals who handle a wide range of employment-related legal matters facing our community members, including wage theft, employment discrimination, paid sick leave, retaliation, paid family leave and health and safety issues on the job. Our Workplace Justice legal team collaborates closely with and provides strategic support on worker organizing campaigns to improve and enforce labor standards at the city and state levels.
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
- Handle an employment law caseload that involves a range of legal representation and advocacy, from direct negotiation and resolution of cases, filing administrative claims, to multi-plaintiff federal court litigation.
- Work closely with MRNY members and organizers to envision and implement strategic affirmative litigation projects and leverage other strategies that strengthen MRNY's worker organizing.
- Support MRNY members and organizing campaigns through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, research and action support.
- Work with MRNY organizers and other partners to support campaigns, provide legal clinics and facilitate know-your-rights workshops in both English and Spanish.
- Participate in legal team and organization wide meetings.
- Maintain case data and cooperate with reporting requirements.
Requirements:
- Eligible to work in the US;
- Admission (or eligibility for admission) to practice law in New York State or the possibility of waiving into the state.
- Fluency in the Spanish language;
- Demonstrated commitment to social, racial and economic justice and an understanding of the challenges facing low-wage workers, immigrant communities, and communities of color;
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
- Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber.
Preference:
- Experience working among populations that make up major portions of MRNY’s membership – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, members of TGNCIQ communities, and youth.
Salary and Benefits:
Starting salary is based on a step scale based on years of experience. MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days, and family leave. The salary for this position will be from $76,500 to $91,290
How to Apply:
Please submit your cover letter and resume at 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.
Salary : $76,500 - $91,290