Housing Justice Staff Attorney – Amsterdam

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY•City of Amsterdam, NY

10d•$75,237 - $93,914•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking a Housing Staff Attorney. Our service area spans sixteen counties, in upstate New York, encompassing six regional offices. This position is based out of our Amsterdam Office. For more information about our work, staff, and clients, visit www.lasnny.org. Staff Attorney: The attorney will provide legal representation and assistance to households at risk of homelessness, and who are suffering from financial and other hardships in Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie.

Requirements

Must be licensed to practice law in NYS or be eligible for admission. Law Graduates will be considered if they have taken the bar exam.
Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to helping low-income and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to employment, safety, housing, and income support and the provision of assertive, compassionate victim sensitive trauma-informed services to victims of domestic violence.
Must be able to communicate effectively with clients and staff, work independently and efficiently, and be able to problem solve and work collaboratively with community partner agency staff.
Must be willing to travel throughout the relevant service area and have a car and a clean valid New York driver's license.
Strong computer, administrative, reporting, and data entry skills required.

Nice To Haves

Training or experience in community lawyering or community organizing or engagement, demonstrated strong listening and relationship-building skills, experience, creativity, and willingness to use varied legal and non-legal advocacy tools to advance community-identified initiatives preferred.
The ability to speak Spanish or Chinese is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide legal assistance to eligible households at risk of homelessness by preventing evictions, securing mainstream benefits, and making referrals to services that will enhance the household's ability to maintain permanent housing.
Work collaboratively with government and nonprofit agencies that provide supportive services, income, shelter, permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services, and financial assistance, to plan and provide assistance to the homeless and at-risk residents.
Provide legal assistance in maintaining or securing permanent housing and the income necessary to retain permanent housing. Legal assistance will include eviction defense, asserting protections for tenants and fully utilizing the law 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, and secure emergency assistance, ongoing temporary assistance, and other income support necessary to achieve housing stability.
Provide a full range of legal services, including counsel and advice, referrals, representation in administrative hearings, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach and engagement, and community lawyering.
Be experts in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or Right To Counsel Program and related data collection.
Ensure that efficient and effective legal assistance is provided which maximizes access to LASNNY services and addresses systemic issues that cause homelessness.
Participate in the development and implementation of LASNNY's race equity priority and their professional development plan.