Bilingual Legal Case Manager

About Covenant House New York

Join a Legacy of Hope and Empowerment at Covenant House New York!

For over 50 years, Covenant House New York (CHNY) has been at the forefront of transforming lives by providing comprehensive shelter, housing, and wrap-around support services for vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. As the largest provider of these essential services in New York City, CHNY impacts the lives of over 1,500 young people aged 16-24 every year.

At CHNY, our doors are open to all young people in need, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Our dedicated team offers various services, including shelter, housing, education, employment, health, mental health support, youth development, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. We operate with harm reduction and trauma-informed principles to ensure the best care for our youth.

But our mission goes beyond immediate support. We are passionate advocates for systemic change, influencing public policy, and raising awareness of the critical issues surrounding youth homelessness. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe refuge and empower young people to build a brighter future founded on compassion, unconditional love, and absolute respect.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of countless young people. Join a team that inspires long-term transformation and hope.

About the role

The Bilingual Legal Case Manager will provide administrative support to the Legal Department of Covenant House New York while also acting as a legal case manager to Covenant House youth. The Bilingual Legal Case Manager will join a small but vibrant and dedicated team of advocates working within an exciting organization committed to providing young people experiencing homelessness with absolute respect and extraordinary care.

He/she/they will coordinate care with other appropriate Covenant House Departments and external partners while ensuring that youth understand and are ready for all aspects of their legal cases. The Bilingual Case Manager will work with youth in a positive and nurturing manner to ensure that their legal needs are addressed in a manner that optimizes their chances for a successful legal outcome or resolution of legal needs. Reporting to CHNY’s Senior Staff Attorney, the Bilingual Case Manager will support a culture that successfully achieves both coordinated care and exemplary legal services.

What you'll do

• Upholds CH’s Mission, Vision and 5 Principles, standards of conduct, and policies and procedures. Integrates Mission and 5 Principles into work done with the youth and with the community.
• Works with the Senior Staff Attorney to ensure that youth receive exemplary legal services
• Keeps in frequent contact with Covenant House youth, making sure that they are aware of all relevant appointments and have a thorough understanding of what is going on with their legal case
• Help youth gather all relevant documents
• With the assistance of the Senior Staff Attorney, occasionally ease youth’s anxiety by explaining complex legal situations in simple terms
• Act as the face of the legal department by welcoming all youth and visitors
• Conduct brief intake screens of Covenant House youth to confirm that their problem is one that a lawyer can help with
• Schedule appointments and manage the calendar of the Senior Staff Attorney
• Liaise closely with other Covenant House Departments to coordinate youth’s legal and social services needs
• Research out-of-state and new referral sources and assist youth with making and attending offsite appointments
• Handle the administrative work of the legal department 
• Maintain LegalServer-the Legal Department’s database
• Potentially research, co-facilitate, and assist in the creation of “Know Your Rights” curricula
• Assist with translating for Spanish-speaking youth when appropriate
• Escort youth to off-campus appointments and services when needed.
• Occasionally assist the VP of Advocacy/Legal with PowerPoint presentations and administrative work
• Model caring engagement with youth.
• Participate in all required trainings, supervision, and staff meetings.
• Always upholds CHNY’s standards of conduct and policies and procedures.  
• Always reflects CHNY’s values and principles on social media.
• Performs other duties as assigned and needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• If no Bachelor's degree, High School/GED required with one (1) year of experience in a residential setting and working with adolescents preferred.
• Experience working with at-risk youth strongly preferred.
• Bilingual with fluent Spanish is required
• Interest in working with homeless and runaway youth on their legal issues, with a particular interest in immigration law 
• Ability to follow instructions, prioritize assignments, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational skills to keep track of a wide variety of youth legal cases

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