Legal Assistant

Chinese-American Planning Council • New York, NY

1d • $25 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Program Supervisor from ONA Opportunity Center, the part-time legal assistant will support CPC’s legal and advocacy work to ensure immigrant, AAPI, and low-income New Yorkers have access to trusted, community-based legal services. This role will provide direct support to CPC’s senior attorney for community legal services as well as to our ONA Opportunity Center, assist with client intake, follow up with clients to collect necessary documents, maintain confidential records, help make referrals, support legal clinics and Know-Your-Rights workshops, and help create and translate community legal resources. The Legal Assistant will also partner with other members of CPC’s immigrant and social services staff as needed to provide community members with holistic support. This position is ideal for an individual interested in gaining experience in community-based legal services, immigration law, and public interest work. The candidate does not need to be in law school; strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and an interest in serving immigrant communities are essential.

Requirements

• High school degree preferred
• Legal or community service experience is a plus but not required.
• Understanding of issues affecting immigrant and low-income communities, and a commitment to expanding access to community-based legal support.
• Ability to maintain secure, organized, and confidential records, and to exercise discretion when interacting with clients and sensitive information.
• Ability to take initiative, respond to emerging needs, and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Receptive to coaching and committed to developing professional and technical skills.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage scheduling, documents, deadlines, and multi-step processes; familiarity with organizational systems (including color-coded tracking systems) is a plus.
• Fluency in one of the following languages, with the ability to translate written materials and provide interpretation in community-based and client-facing settings: Mandarin, Cantonese, Fujianese, or Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and coordinate client intake appointments.
• Assist with intake sessions, including collecting documents, taking notes, data entry, and ensuring accurate information is captured.
• Maintain confidential client records and database entries in accordance with legal, contractual, and organizational standards.
• Support the staff attorney in preparing case files, legal documents, proofreading and follow-up communications, including collecting and organizing documents.
• Under the direct supervision of an attorney, provide occasional legal information
• Help organize, prepare for, and execute monthly legal clinics, including participant scheduling, on-site logistics, and materials organization.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure clinics run smoothly and effectively.
• Help coordinate and prep for legal “office hours” for staff support and questions
• Communicate with partner organizations, referring agencies, and community groups as needed.
• Liaise with courts, city agencies, and other entities to obtain information, submit documentation, or coordinate next steps.
• Conduct data entry, case tracking, and administrative tasks to support legal services operations.
• Help run Know-Your-Rights workshops, including assisting with facilitation, materials distribution, and participant support.
• Work with the staff attorney, organizing team, and program staff to create and manage systems for disseminating your rights of resources to community members and partners.
• Support translation, interpretation, and proofreading for community-facing legal materials in Mandarin, Cantonese, and/or Spanish.
• Assist in developing clear, accessible legal resources and informational guides.
• Participate in team meetings, training, and professional development opportunities.
• Support cross-team coordination and administrative tasks as needed.

Benefits

• CPC offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to generous paid time off (holiday, sick and vacation time), Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life Insurance Coverage, Commuter Benefits, and a 403(b) Retirement Plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees