Positions available!

We're growing! Please take a look at the positions we have available and share with friends.

PARALEGAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Open Hands Legal Services seeks a paralegal to support Open Hands attorneys and staff. Our vision is the transformation of all lives through the power of justice and hope. Our mission is to uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed in New York City. We bring free legal services directly to community members at host non-profit organizations throughout the city and break down the legal barriers to their success, enabling individuals to flourish and embody the full persons they are intended to be. More information about us is available at www.openhandslegalservices.org.

Responsibilities

The paralegal will work closely with Open Hands’ staff in the office and at mobile legal aid desks at soup kitchens and shelters across New York City. Legal aid desk assistance involves setting up and breaking down, maintaining supplies, coordinating operation of the Legal Aid Desk, and conducting initial screening of applicants. Other responsibilities include: processing preliminary case information into the case management system; serving as a liaison between attorneys and clients; handling client correspondence; obtaining court files and other documents; maintaining case files; preparing and assembling court papers; conducting client interviews; making field visits and other duties as assigned. The paralegal may also draft legal memoranda, assist with case preparation, prepare written reports and memoranda, serve subpoenas and other legal documents.  

The ideal candidate possesses an entrepreneurial and sacrificial spirit, a deep love for our clients and a demonstrated commitment to Open Hands’ mission and values. S/he is a self-starter and responds well to quickly changing demands with flexibility. The ability to handle a high volume of cases and take initiative is critical to this position.  

Qualifications

•    Mature Christian faith as defined by the Apostles’ Creed
•    Strong writing, verbal, organizational and computer skills
•    Proven ability to solve problems independently and creatively
•    Strong interpersonal and advocacy skills
•    Strong written and oral communication skills
•    Demonstrated ability to interact with diverse populations in a sensitive and professional manner
•    Strong entrepreneurial spirit combined with sacrificial service to our clients and team
•    A second language – especially Spanish, Cantonese or Mandarin – is strongly preferred

Terms

•    This a full-time position which requires Saturday morning and weeknight meetings throughout New York City.
•    Salary commensurate with experience

How to apply

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to recruiting@openhandslegalservices.org with “Paralegal” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and must be received by February 26, 2016.

LAW STUDENT INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Open Hands Legal Services offers law student internships throughout the year. Our vision is the transformation of all lives through the power of justice and hope. Our mission is to uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed in New York City. We bring free legal services directly to community members at host non-profit organizations throughout the city and break down the legal barriers to their success, enabling individuals to flourish and embody the full persons they are intended to be. More information about us is available at www.openhandslegalservices.org.

Position description  

The intern will work with Open Hands to provide Christ-centered, holistic legal services to low-income New Yorkers. The intern will conduct legal research, regular client intake and, under attorney supervision, will provide clients with legal advice in areas relating to landlord-tenant law, consumer law, family law, and re-entry, among other things.

Qualifications

The applicant should either be enrolled in law school or have already graduated. S/he must have an interest in social justice and legal issues, and serving low-income New Yorkers in a fast-pasted and energetic start-up environment. S/he should have excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills and be responsible, flexible and hard-working.

Terms
•    Interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday) over a 10 to 12-week internship period. 

•    Open Hands' internship program provides students with a rich learning experience, but does not provide monetary compensation.

How to apply

To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest (no longer than one page) to recruiting@openhandslegalservices.org. Please write “Open Hands Law Student Intern Application” in the subject line of the e-mail. For spring and summer 2016, one position is available. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.  

We need volunteer photographers for our legal aid desks!

We are in need of professional photographers to capture images at three of our mobile legal aid desks in October 2015, at the following locations:

  • (1) October 10, 9am-12pm: Father’s Heart Ministries, 545 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10009
  • (2) October 13, 6:15pm-9pm: All Angels’ Our Place Café, 251 W. 80th St., New York, NY 10024 (a “Know Your Rights” seminar will take place before the desk)
  • (3) October 24, 10:30am-1:30pm: The Relief Bus, Park Avenue & E. 124th St., East Harlem, NY 10035

 

We are looking for volunteers to help us communicate the importance of our work at these sites and in these neighborhoods. Deliverables are due November 6, 2015.

About the Project

Our purpose is to transform all lives through the power of justice and hope. Only one in five low-income New Yorkers have their civil legal needs met. In civil matters (unlike criminal matters), there is no right to counsel if you cannot afford one. However, in civil matters involving the “essentials of life” (e.g. housing, health care etc.), people face devastating consequences that parallel the effects of a criminal prosecution. Without counsel, the poor have no real access to justice even when stakes are high.

Open Hands was founded in 2009 by volunteer attorneys to provide the poor with high-quality, free legal services. We take our services to partner non-profits (shelters and soup kitchens) and complement their care. For example, if a shelter works with a client on job training, but the client is hampered in his ability to get a job by his criminal record, volunteer attorneys can step in and effectuate big change.

Open Hands has grown dramatically in response to high demand. We served fewer than 100 clients in 2011, but over 600 low-income by 2014. While the laboring ore at our legal aid desks is undertaken by volunteers, an experienced public interest law practitioner is necessary for supervision and follow-up. Currently, we have one dedicated attorney on staff.

In light of increased demand, our long-term goals include hiring additional staff attorneys and becoming a full-services legal aid organization. We are now prioritizing our fundraising and communications and recently hired our first Director of Development & Communications. Our goal is that a re-branding, which includes a new website, will help us educate supporters about the civil legal aid crisis and inspire a big response. Gifted professional photographers/storytellers are essential.

Deliverables

  • (1) A professional photographer who will shoot at any or all of our mobile legal aid desks on October 10, 13, and 24.
  • (2) A set (or sets) of professionally edited, high-resolution images delivered in JPEG or TIFF format.

 

Process

  • (1) Distribution of Prep Materials: Director of Development & Communications provides background on and goals for the photos (intended usage & number of photos needed).
  • (2) Director of Development & Communications and Volunteer agree upon a work plan including: shoot location, dates, length of shoot and materials needed.
  • (3) Photo Shoots in October 2015: Volunteer attends mobile legal aid desk and captures images of our work.
  • (4) Editing: Volunteer edits and color corrects the photos.
  • (5) Presentation of Deliverables by November 6: Volunteer delivers high-resolution images.

 

If interested, please contact Fay Sardjono, Director of Development & Communications, at fay@openhandslegalservices.org and include samples of your work. Please share this opportunity with friends!

Law Student Volunteer Training (open to everyone)

Meet and join fellow law students from across New York City at Open Hands Legal Services' Law Student Volunteer training! Thursday, October 8, 2015 6:00 - 9:00 PM (Check-in and light dinner begin at 5:30 PM) Hope for New York

1116 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1610

New York, NY 10036

Open Hands' purpose is to transform all lives through the power of justice and hope. We strive to faithfully respond to God's call to seek justice and defend the rights of the poor by providing legal services and counseling to the poor and indigent in New York City.

Volunteering with Open Hands is a great way to serve the city with your unique gifts, hone your legal skills, meet like-minded members of the legal community, and fulfill your New York State pro bono bar admission requirement!

Training is a prerequisite for Open Hands legal aid desk volunteers. This course is FREE to those who volunteer by January 2016. Volunteers may serve at one of the following legal aid desks: Father's Heart Ministries (East Village), All Angels' Church - Our Place Cafe (Upper West Side), The Bowery Mission, Women's Bowery Mission, and The Relief Bus. Click here to register. Deadline is October 6, 2015.

All are welcome, so please forward this to friends! Appropriate for both newly-admitted and experienced attorneys as well as new and experienced Open Hands volunteers. MCLE Credits: 1.5 Skills, 1 Ethics

Please note: This training is geared toward law students, but is open to attorneys, paralegals, and others who wish to volunteer with Open Hands. All new volunteers must attend a New Volunteer Training.

Law Students — Intern with Open Hands!

LAW STUDENT INTERNSHIP. Open Hands Legal Services offers law student internships throughout the year.  The internship program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to support the provision of free legal services in a collaborative Christian social services setting and throughout New York City. Position description.   The intern will work with Open Hands to provide Christ-centered, holistic legal services to low-income New Yorkers.  The intern will conduct legal research, regular client intake and, under attorney supervision, he/she will provide clients with legal advice in areas relating to landlord-tenant law, consumer law, family law, and re-entry, among other things.

Qualifications.  The applicant should either be enrolled in law school or have already graduated.  He/she must have an interest in social justice and legal issues, and serving low-income New Yorkers in a fast-pasted and energetic start-up environment.  He/she should have excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills, be responsible, flexible and hard working.  Interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday) over a 10 to 12 week internship period.

About Open Hands.  Open Hands Legal Services’ purpose is to transform all lives through the power of justice and hope.  We are a faith-based legal services organization that provides free legal services and spiritual support to the poor and indigent in New York City.   We are lean, aggressive in our desire to effect justice and change lives and are passionate about providing hope and stability to individuals and communities.  More information is available at www.openhandslegalservices.org.

Open Hands’ internship program provides students with a rich learning experience, but does not provide monetary compensation.

To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest (no longer than one page) to recruiting@openhandslegalservices.org.  Please write “Open Hands Law Student Intern Application” in the subject line of the e-mail.  For fall 2015, one position is available.  Applications are accepted – and decisions will be made – on a rolling basis.   We will respond to those candidates we wish to interview.