Housing Justice Staff Attorney – Amsterdam

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY•Amsterdam, NY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York is seeking a Housing Staff Attorney based in its Amsterdam Office. The attorney will provide legal representation and assistance to eligible households at risk of homelessness and experiencing financial or other hardship in Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie counties. The attorney will help households maintain or secure permanent housing and the income needed to retain it. Services include eviction defense, protecting tenants and tenancies, addressing utility shut-offs or denials of service, protecting public and subsidized housing tenancies and subsidies, and securing emergency assistance, temporary assistance, and other income support. The role provides a full range of legal services, including counsel and advice, referrals, administrative hearing representation, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach and engagement, and community lawyering. The attorney will collaborate with government and nonprofit agencies providing supportive services, income, shelter, permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and financial assistance. The attorney will work with LASNNY housing attorneys and paralegals to deliver efficient and effective services, maximize access, and address systemic causes of homelessness. The role includes expertise in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or Right To Counsel Program and related data collection and compliance, as well as participation in LASNNY’s race equity priority and professional development plan.

Requirements

Must be licensed to practice law in New York State or eligible for admission; law graduates will be considered if they have taken the bar exam.
Demonstrated commitment to helping low-income and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to employment, safety, housing, and income support.
Ability to provide assertive, compassionate, victim-sensitive, trauma-informed services to victims of domestic violence.
Ability to communicate effectively with clients and staff, work independently and efficiently, problem-solve, and collaborate with community partner agency staff.
Strong computer, administrative, reporting, and data-entry skills.
Willingness to travel throughout the relevant service area.
Must have a car and a clean, valid New York driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Training or experience in community lawyering, community organizing, or community engagement.
Strong listening and relationship-building skills.
Experience, creativity, and willingness to use varied legal and non-legal advocacy tools to advance community-identified initiatives.
Ability to speak Spanish or Chinese.

Responsibilities

Provide legal representation and assistance to eligible households at risk of homelessness.
Prevent evictions and help households maintain or secure permanent housing and the income necessary to retain it.
Defend evictions and assert tenant protections to preserve tenancies and keep people safe in housing.
Protect public and subsidized housing tenancies and subsidies.
Address utility shut-offs or denials of service.
Secure emergency assistance, ongoing temporary assistance, and other income support needed for housing stability.
Provide counsel and advice, referrals, administrative hearing representation, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach and engagement, and community lawyering.
Collaborate with government and nonprofit agencies providing supportive services, income, shelter, permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and financial assistance.
Develop expertise in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or Right To Counsel Program and fulfill related data collection and compliance requirements.
Collaborate with LASNNY housing attorneys and paralegals to provide efficient and effective legal assistance, maximize access to LASNNY services, and address systemic issues that cause homelessness.
Participate in the development and implementation of LASNNY’s race equity priority and professional development plan.
Travel throughout the relevant service area.