Two Year Fellowship

Disability Rights New Jersey

Fellowship Opportunity

Disability Rights New Jersey seeks a full-time, two-year fellow working under the supervision of the Legal Director and Chief Administration Officer. Disability Rights New Jersey provides legal assistance to individuals with disabilities in New Jersey. This position will provide administrative support to the Legal Team and the office in general, with opportunities to learn and participate in advocacy and outreach. 

Disability Rights New Jersey is the designated protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities in the diverse state of New Jersey, providing individual and systemic advocacy and legal representation, training, technical assistance, and outreach in order to protect legal, civil, and human rights.

This position requires an Associate’s Degree and/or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college.  In addition, candidates must demonstrate a commitment to disability rights through, by example, course of study, extracurricular experience, or lived experience. The salary for this fellowship is $45,000 along with generous health benefits for applicants who are recent college graduates with up to 3 years of experience. 

As the Disability Rights New Jersey fellow, this candidate will provide administrative support to the Legal Team including assistance in drafting legal correspondence, file maintenance and management, project management, and grant management; in addition, the fellow will be responsible for receptionist and clerical duties during designated hours during the week.  This position is a fully in-office position.  Disability Rights New Jersey’s office is in Trenton, New Jersey.   

This candidate should have a strong commitment to public interest, and particularly a demonstrated interest in advocating for individuals with disabilities. This candidate should have intellectual curiosity and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. This candidate must also have the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary federal security clearances required by federal funders. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Greets visitors to office at front desk. 
• Performs general clerical work as requested by assigned staff (e.g., facsimiles, copies, file organization, receives packages).
• Answers daily telephone calls in real time and responds to voice messages.
• Interfaces with outside individuals and entities as necessary and appropriate.
• Opens and scans mail and documents.
• Maintains essential records and files, including DAD and other databases, including completing intake records.
• Assists Middle and Senior Management staff in administrative duties.
• Prepares standard letters, memos, forms, and documents.
• Proofreads and properly formats correspondence and materials.
• Handles requests for information in accordance with established procedures.
• Provides program and/or administrative assistance.
• Schedules meetings and appointments as necessary and appropriate.
• Interfaces with outside individuals and entities as necessary and appropriate.
• Participates in staff training and development activities, including supervision, staff meetings and conferences.
• Participates in outreach activities.
• Prepares reports as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is in-person in our Trenton office.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associates degree and/or bachelor’s degree. 
• One (1) year of experience in the general field as appropriate.  Experience working in a disability-related field preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any federal security clearance required by federal funders.

Disability Rights New Jersey seeks candidates committed to diversity and to the rights of individuals with disabilities to full inclusion in society. This position is full-time, in-office.

Disability Rights New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Disability Rights New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Interested applicants should email a resume and a letter of interest to:  Interview Committee, Disability Rights New Jersey at advocate@disabilityrightsnj.org.