Fair Housing Counsel

Related•New York, NY

10d•$175,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Fair Housing Counsel is a member of the Related Legal team, responsible for advising and supporting Related Affordable and market-rate businesses on fair housing compliance and risk management across a national portfolio. This role serves as a key legal and compliance partner to property management, leasing, and operations teams — guiding decision-making, resolving fair housing matters, and managing issues from intake through resolution, including agency complaints, internal escalations, and compliance-related inquiries. This position is designed for either a licensed attorney or an experienced fair housing professional. It requires the ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and engage directly with both internal stakeholders and external enforcement agencies.

Requirements

J.D. with active bar admission strongly preferred; candidates without a law degree will be considered if they bring exceptional and directly relevant fair housing experience.
Minimum of 7-10 years of experience with a substantive focus on fair housing, gained in a government or agency setting, private practice, or an in-house legal or compliance function.
Demonstrated experience handling fair housing complaints and/or investigations, including drafting responses and position statements.
Direct experience interacting with fair housing enforcement agencies or comparable regulatory bodies.
Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local fair housing laws and enforcement frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and persuasively present positions to agencies, courts (where applicable), and internal stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously and exercise sound judgment in high-stakes or time-sensitive situations.
Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to develop and clearly articulate a point of view.
Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact with fair housing enforcement agencies — handling investigations, inquiries, and negotiations, and coordinating internally to gather facts and develop the company's position.
Manage and respond to fair housing complaints at the federal, state, and local agency level, including drafting position statements, coordinating document production, developing response strategy, and partnering with internal stakeholders to assess exposure and formulate defensible positions.
Coordinate with outside counsel and support litigation and administrative proceedings, as applicable.
Oversee the review and handling of reasonable accommodation and modification requests, working with internal teams to evaluate requests, ensure appropriate documentation, and maintain compliance.
Support the Fair Housing Officer in managing appeals, including preparing submissions, analyzing records, and helping develop strategic positions.
Advise property management, leasing, and operations teams on fair housing compliance and risk, including real-time guidance on escalated issues and business decisions.
Provide guidance on applicant screening and other leasing decisions to ensure compliance with applicable fair housing requirements.
Track and manage a portfolio of active matters, ensuring timely responses and clear communication of status, risk, and next steps to relevant stakeholders.
Identify trends and recurring issues across properties and proactively recommend risk mitigation strategies.
Assist in developing guidance materials, training programs, and internal resources to support fair housing compliance across the business.
Maintain organized records and documentation across all matters in accordance with internal protocols.