SRLP is looking for applicants for the following open positions:
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is seeking a Prisoner Justice Staff Attorney (Posted August 23, 2012)
Mission
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. SRLP is a collective organization founded on the understanding that gender self-determination is inextricably intertwined with racial, social and economic justice. We seek to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income people and people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming. SRLP works to improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services for our communities. We believe that in order to create meaningful political participation and leadership, we must have access to basic means of survival and safety from violence.
Responsibilities
The staff attorney will direct the work of the Prisoner Justice Project including all direct services, impact litigation, public education, policy work, and community organizing support to advance the rights of incarcerated transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming people. Responsibilities include all aspects of providing direct services to a caseload of incarcerated clients; negotiating with agencies to change policies impacting our incarcerated community members; developing and pursuing impact litigation against correctional agencies; drafting know your rights materials and conducting trainings of community members and service providers; supervising legal interns; co-coordinating SRLP’s Prisoner Advisory Committee; and supporting campaigns of community organizing projects through such means as coordinating legal observing for actions or conducting on-site clinics. The staff attorney will also share general administrative and collective-wide duties with other staff.
Qualifications
The applicant should possess the following qualifications:
- Law degree
- Commitment to gender self-determination and racial and economic justice
- Willingness to work in a collective environment with consensus-based decision-making
- Fluency in Spanish and English
- Admission to practice in New York
- Substantial civil legal services and/or civil rights litigation experience
- Familiarity with low-income transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming communities of color
- Familiarity with prisoner rights litigation and/or direct services on behalf of prisoners.
- Public speaking experience
- Experience negotiating with government agencies
Compensation
Consistent with our values as a collective, all full-time staff are paid the same base annual salary, currently $50,585. An increased salary is possible based on need, such as for people supporting family members. Generous benefits package includes 3 weeks of vacation time, full medical and dental benefits, and payment of professional fees.
Application
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Chase Strangio via e-mail at srlp_jobs@srlp.org with subject line “Prisoner Justice Staff Attorney”. Application materials can be mailed to: Chase Strangio, Sylvia Rivera Law Project, 147 w. 24th St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011. E-mail strongly preferred for submission. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
***People of color, trans people, women, people with intersex conditions or DSDs, people who have lived in poverty, people with disabilities, immigrants, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people are strongly encouraged to apply***
THE SYLVIA RIVERA LAW PROJECT IS SEEKING LEGAL INTERNS FOR FALL 2012!
Legal interns at SRLP work on a range of issues affecting low-income transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming people of color, including prisoners’ rights, name changes and identity documentation, discrimination in sex-segregated facilities, immigration, Medicaid, and more.
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project seeks legal interns. We require a minimum 10 hr / week commitment and will support you in getting school credit !
Responsibilities:
Interns at SRLP work on a range of issues affecting low-income transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming people of color, including prisoners’ rights, name changes and identity documentation, discrimination in sex-segregated facilities, immigration, Medicaid, and more. Interns have their own caseload and the opportunity to work on their clients’ cases in depth through conducting intake interviews, drafting pleadings in clients’ cases, advocating with government agencies and other entities, connecting clients with resources, and educating clients about their rights. Interns also assist with legal research and writing and factual development for impact litigation. They may participate in public education and community organizing support such as preparing “know your rights” materials and doing legal observation at actions.
Applicants must be law students or paralegals or have comparable legal background. Applicants with non-legal backgrounds with a demonstrated interest in poverty law will also be considered. Fluency in Spanish is preferred. People of color, trans people, gender nonconforming people and people with intersex conditions are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and optional writing sample to Pooja Gehi at pooja@srlp.orgas early as possible. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
DEVELOPMENT INTERN
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is seeking development interns.
Development interns and volunteers at SRLP work primarily with the Fundraising and Finance team. Projects include working on our grassroots fundraising campaign in the areas of fundraising house parties and events, benefit concerts, and our major donor project; and working on our institutional fundraising campaign in the areas of grant writing and research. Interns and volunteers often also work on our biannual newsletter and our biannual direct mailings. You will also learn how to maintain our various databases and use applications such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, Microsoft Office, Drupal, CiviCRM, and more.
Applicants should be responsible, time-oriented and have an eagerness to learn.
We are happy to assist interns in applying for school credit. A Racial Justice Stipend may be available.
People of color, trans people, and people with intersex conditions are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply:
Please send a resume and cover letter to fft@srlp.org or by mail to
FFT Intern Hiring
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
147 W. 24th St., 5th Fl.
New York, NY 10011
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.