Deputy Director Attorney, Preserving Affordable Housing-BKLYN

Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A•New York, NY

1d•$113,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing a neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. They collaborate with an extraordinary coalition of neighborhood organizations throughout Brooklyn and their tenant and community organizers to preserve and expand affordable housing for lower-income residents. The work involves representing low-income tenant associations confronting landlords harassing low-income residents and seeking to vacate buildings; individuals and families facing eviction; low-income tenant co-ops seeking to reinforce and sustain themselves; community institutions facing closures or adverse actions due to extraordinary market pressures and neighborhood displacement; low-income tenants in fair housing litigation; as well as community groups involved in struggles against pervasive housing discrimination, neighborhood segregation, and other issues critically affecting the future of their communities. The Opportunity: Build Up Justice NYC seeks a Deputy Director/Attorney to join its Brooklyn Preserving Affordable Housing Program. This role will represent low-income tenants in Brooklyn facing eviction in court and before administrative agencies and bring affirmative litigation. They will handle a reduced caseload of representation non-payment, holdover, HP, 7A, and harassment proceedings in Housing Court, in addition to assisting with managing grant reporting and ensuring deliverables are met, among other tasks. The Deputy Director will supervise law fellows/externs and student interns, as well as staff attorneys. They will participate in case review meetings, pro-bono collaborations, and community outreach events.

Requirements

Admission to the bar of the State of New York.
A minimum of five years’ relative housing experience representing clients in the public sector, low-income tenant groups, and community organizations.
Supervised staff attorneys and paralegals.
A passion for social justice and helping and representing clients individually and in low-income tenant groups.
Client-based focus.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Experience supervising a team of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff.
Experience working with clients in the public sector, low-income tenant groups, community organizations, and/or coalitions.
Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with clients/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment.
An understanding of the City’s housing market and/or experience in housing law practice.
Ability to work independently with strong motivation.
Ability to manage a high caseload.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to be flexible.
Excellent legal writing, litigation, and advocacy skills.
Experience writing narrative reports for grants and contracts.
Experience generating and monitoring case metrics for quantitative contract reporting.
Computer proficiency sufficient to independently review and generate materials relevant to the position, track client information in our database, prepare reports for grantors, attend meetings, and perform administrative tasks related to the work, such as timekeeping and case notes.
Demonstrated ability to publish articles effectively advocating on behalf of clients and Build Up Justice NYC.
Language proficiency relevant to our clients, especially Spanish.
Willingness, desire, and ability to attend evening meetings.

Responsibilities

Represent low-income tenants in Brooklyn facing eviction in court and before administrative agencies.
Bring affirmative litigation.
Handle a reduced caseload of representation non-payment, holdover, HP, 7A, and harassment proceedings in Housing Court.
Assist in managing grant reporting and ensuring deliverables are met.
Supervise law fellows/externs and student interns, as well as staff attorneys.
Participate in case review meetings.
Participate in pro-bono collaborations.
Participate in community outreach events.
Publish articles effectively advocating on behalf of clients and Build Up Justice NYC.
Attend evening meetings.