Fast Facts

The Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives will lead multi-faceted economic justice efforts at Fordham University, overseeing pro bono initiatives and legal clinics while advocating for economic justice and engaging with community stakeholders.

Responsibilities: Lead economic justice advocacy efforts, manage pro bono initiatives, oversee operational aspects of legal clinics, develop program materials, and engage with community stakeholders.

Skills: J.D. degree, admission or eligibility for bar admission in New York, experience in civil legal services and pro bono management, strong analytical and legal writing skills, commitment to economic justice and race equity, exceptional organizational skills.

Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years of legal experience, preferably in consumer defense. Fluency in Spanish and English is preferred.

Location: New York, New York, USA

Compensation: $90000 - $120000 / Annually

Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives

School Of Law, Lincoln Center

Fordham University

Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City. Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools. 

• Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We offer tuition remission  for employees and their dependents 
• A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan .
• As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness  (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
• As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 4 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.  
• University employees have access to the  Employee Assistance Program  (EAP) . EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Center for Social Justice, the Director for Economic Justice and Pro Bono Initiatives leads the Center’s multi-faceted economic justice work, including ensuring the smooth on-the-ground running of clinics and the provision of high-quality, limited-scope pro bono services, and oversees all operational and programmatic aspects of the Center’s new pro bono initiatives.

Essential Functions        

• Plans and develops initiatives, in conjunction with the Center’s leadership, related to the Center’s economic justice work and leads the Center’s economic justice advocacy efforts, including legislative campaigns, amici briefs, and engagements with relevant stakeholders, policy makers, and court officials.
• Oversees all operational and programmatic aspects of Economic Justice Programs and Pro Bono Initiatives at the Center, including operating volunteer-staffed, limited-scope, court-based legal clinics, providing other limited-scope pro bono services, developing pilots, organizing service trips and supervising remote pro bono opportunities.
• Oversees all aspects of pro bono management, including developing and maintaining legal templates and forms, program manuals, policies, protocols, recruiting, training, supervising, and recognizing the Center’s volunteers, both attorneys and law students.
• Serves as the principal point of contact for the day-to-day operation of the consumer debt defense programs for key constituents, including court personnel, legal services partners, and volunteers.
• Oversees all aspects of the Center’s case management system in connection with pro bono services and ensures integrity of data collection and tracking.
• Helps identify and pursue funding opportunities and manages grant reporting in connection with the Center’s consumer defense and other pro bono initiatives.
• Spearheads community engagement efforts to ensure community- and client-centered programming in connection with the Center’s consumer defense and other pro bono initiatives.

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities  

Supervises the work of other Fordham employees who are individual contributors. Responsible for hiring, training and developing, managing performance and administering corrective action. Has significant input in compensation decisions.

Additional Functions      

• Helps develop Know-Your-Rights and outreach materials in connection with the Center’s pro bono initiatives.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience        

• J.D. degree.
• Admitted or eligible for admission to the bar of the State of New York.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a lawyer, preferably in a civil legal services organization and preferably providing consumer defense.
• Experience with pro bono and volunteer management.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills     

• Demonstrated commitment to race equity, anti-racism, and economic justice in the workplace and in providing legal services.
• Demonstrated analytical, legal writing, and advocacy skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and team player with the ability to work in a positive, collaborative, and inclusive environment.
• Self-motivated worker with strong initiative, ability to work independently and with superior judgment.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Fluency in Spanish and English.

Minimum Starting Salary: $90,000

Maximum Starting Salary: $120,000

Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

START DATE: ASAP

APPLY HERE: https://careers.fordham.edu/postings/9648

ABOUT FORDHAM

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its 9 colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom. 

Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories