Project Coordinator (Bilingual English/Spanish), Consumer Bankruptcy and Education Debt Initiative

Project Coordinator (Bilingual English/Spanish), Consumer Bankruptcy and Education Debt Initiative
Department: City Bar Justice Center
Reports to: Project Director
FLSA: Non-Exempt

The (CBJC) seeks an enthusiastic and organized individual who is committed to equal access to justice to join our team as a Project Coordinator – a role that is similar to a legal assistant or paralegal – principally for our consumer bankruptcy and education debt practice. CBJC annually provides high-quality, free civil legal services benefiting over 27,000 New Yorkers who lack the resources to hire private counsel. CBJC also relies on partnerships with our affiliate, the , as well as with law firms, corporate legal departments, solo practitioners, law schools, the courts, and other stakeholders. Last year, over 3,000 pro bono attorneys donated services to support clinics and client work drawn from CBJC’s .

The City Bar Justice Center’s Consumer Bankruptcy Project advises individuals burdened with consumer, medical, and student loan debt on rights and remedies available to them under Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy and consumer laws, and offers financial literacy educational resources and tools to the larger community . The project also assists borrowers with federal and private student loans through a partnership with the Community Service Society’s Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program, and trains and mentors pro bono attorneys to assist project clients and support legal clinics, trainings, and presentations.

CBJC has an immediate opening for a new, bilingual (English/Spanish-speaking) Project Coordinator to work closely with and under the supervision of a CBJC Project Director and Staff Attorney to handle the following areas of responsibility, among others, for our consumer bankruptcy and education debt practice :

• Serve as the first point of contact for clients seeking legal assistance, conducting eligibility screening and client interviews and providing case assessment support.
• Carefully maintain client and volunteer databases and diligently track case statistics.
• Assist in the preparation of grant applications / reports and other fundraising activities.
• Provide administrative help by answering phones and setting up client appointments, while providing caring follow-up to clients, who typically seek our assistance at very vulnerable moments in their lives.
• Provide organizational and logistical support for both virtual and in-person training programs, legal clinics, and community outreach events.
• Conduct legal research and draft initial papers or applications under the supervision of CBJC attorneys.
• Liaise with attorney volunteers from large law firms and corporate legal departments.
• Assist in counseling borrowers with federal loans on repayment forgiveness and other programs.
• Identify bankruptcy clients with student loans who may qualify for discharge and coordinate placement with pro bono attorneys.
• Deliver educational presentations and webinars to community organizations and partners, tailored for federal student loan borrowers.
• Create short guides or blogs in English and Spanish to help borrowers understand and manage their loans and update on our website .
• Enter and maintain accurate client records and notes in client management databases.
• Attend required monthly student loan virtual and annual in-person training and stay current on student loan policy and updates.
• Ensure timely completion of deliverables related to student loan cases and outreach presentations.
• As needed, provide general administrative support, including new programming within and across CBJC projects.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or substantially equivalent work experience in a professional setting.
• Minimum 1 year of work experience (relevant internships acceptable).

• Strong data-entry, organizational and project management skills; high attention to detail; excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable communicating both by telephone and in direct contact with the public.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, and the ability to quickly learn and effectively use LegalServer, Salesforce, and PACER.
• Ability to connect with people from different backgrounds, and demonstrate enthusiasm for public interest legal work, serving communities that are under-resourced, and advancing racial equity and social and economic justice is required.
• A team player with an ability to interact respectfully with clients, volunteer attorneys, and fellow staff members.
• Spanish fluency required—written and spoken.

We are looking for candidates who can join our organization if not immediately then within two to three weeks of being offered the position and are willing to make a minimum commitment of two years to the Project Coordinator role. Candidates for this position must be available for in-person work in Manhattan on a hybrid schedule requiring 2-3 days of scheduled in-office work per week, with the balance of time being work-from-home . Occasional local travel for legal clinics or other program support may be required.

This is a Local 153, Office and Professional Employees International Union position, with a starting annualized salary of at least $51,250 based on a 35-hour workweek (with higher salaries in the range of $51,250-$59,500 dependent on having 2-8+ years of directly relevant prior legal services experience), and other benefits and employment terms and conditions in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement. The City Bar’s competitive benefits package includes generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays, day off for volunteer work, extra time off in the summer), choice of medical plans (some offered at almost no cost to employee), dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, commuter benefits, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, employee discounts, and more !

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to sponsor visas for this position.

To apply : Please submit a resume and tailored cover letter detailing your interest in this position. Finalists for the role will also be asked to submit three professional business references.

The City Bar Justice Center is a proud equal opportunity employer, and we particularly encourage applications from candidates belonging to communities historically under-represented in the legal profession. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and unique experiences to apply. We welcome diversity of all kinds. It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, arrest or conviction record, pregnancy, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, marital status, partnership status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, religion, sex, genetic information, military status, unemployment status or any other characteristic as protected by law. With regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws, the organization will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for persons due to their religious beliefs, disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition or because the individual was a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking .