Executive Assistant

The Legal Aid Society, the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit law firm serving New York City, is dedicated to a simple yet powerful mission: ensuring that no individual is denied the right to equal justice due to poverty. For 147 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long - working on the front lines and behind the scenes to offer our clients the exceptional legal services they deserve. Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we offer an unmatched depth and breadth of legal expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers in over 300,000 legal matters annually to assist vulnerable New Yorkers. We are dedicated to making a positive impact every day, in every borough.

The Executive Assistant provides support to the Attorney-in-Chief & CEO and the General Counsel. The Executive Office provides administrative and operational support for the Society's Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices as they provide legal assistance for low-income New Yorkers. The Executive Assistant partners with colleagues throughout the Society on a wide variety of administrative tasks. In addition, the Executive Assistant liaises with attorneys, other executives, and the Board of Directors to ensure efficient and productive operations across the office and the broader Society.

Executive support

• Provide confidential administrative support to the Attorney-in-Chief (AIC) & CEO, General Counsel, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and other Senior Staff
• Serve as a liaison on behalf of the AIC & CEO, General Counsel, and COO to external stakeholders-including government agencies, elected officials, and clients-and to Society staff
• Handle highly confidential and valuable information and materials with discretion
• Manage complex calendars and schedule meetings
• Collect and track AIC & CEO's CLE certification
• Take notes in executive-level meetings
• Collect and prepare information for the AIC & CEO, General Counsel, and COO for use in discussions and meetings with Senior Staff members and external stakeholders

Administrative support

• Process invoices, expense reimbursements, and purchasing requisitions for Executive Office staff
• Respond to requests by outside counsel for client files
• Upkeep of Board surveys, demographic data, and updated board policies
• Coordinate Board meetings with external firms
• Collect data and prepare reports and other documents for government agencies, funders, and other third parties
• Receive and review correspondence, and direct to the appropriate departments

Professional Development and other duties as assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required plus at least five (5) years of related work experience supporting executive-level staff; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Willingness to become NYS Notary Public
• (list additional as needed to be minimally qualified for the position)

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working at a law firm or non-profit experience
• Already NYS Notary Public

Position-Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communications skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work under pressure
• Exceptional organizational skills with careful attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Familiarity with, or ability to quickly learn, Law Manager and other apps
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Ability to respond quickly and calmly in emergencies and when problems arise
• Some knowledge of the Criminal, Juvenile, and Civil legal systems
• A commitment to social justice and the mission of The Legal Aid Society

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• Requires occasional or frequent physical movement to perform essential job functions which may include, bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, standing or walking for long periods of time, accessing small spaces
• May require travel within NYC, across the five borough region
• Ability to lift 20 pounds on an occasional/routine basis

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $81,000 - $91,000

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.