Housing Justice Staff Attorney - Albany

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

2d•$75,237 - $93,914•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York is seeking a Housing Staff Attorney based in its Albany office. The nonprofit civil legal services program serves sixteen counties in upstate New York through six regional offices. The organization works to advance fairness, dignity, and justice for people living in poverty and to build an inclusive and equitable society by using the law to address individual and systemic wrongs and inequities. The attorney will provide legal assistance to eligible households at risk of homelessness and to people seeking to secure or maintain permanent housing and the income needed to retain it. Work includes eviction defense, protecting tenant rights and safety, preserving public and subsidized housing tenancies and subsidies, addressing utility service issues, and securing emergency assistance and income supports. The position also involves collaboration with government and nonprofit service providers, legal representation and advice, referrals, administrative hearings, litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach, engagement, and community lawyering. The attorney will work with LASNNY housing attorneys and paralegals, address systemic causes of homelessness, contribute to the organization’s race equity priority, and participate in a professional development plan. This position operates in a professional law office environment and is based in Albany. It may require travel throughout the service area. The role may occasionally involve carrying regular office supplies and requires use of standard office equipment, software, and remote videoconferencing platforms. LASNNY offers flexible hybrid-remote and alternative work schedules.

Requirements

Licensed to practice law in New York State or eligible for admission; law graduates will be considered if they have taken the bar exam.
Strong commitment to helping low-income and disadvantaged people overcome institutional barriers to employment, safety, housing, and income support.
Commitment to assertive, compassionate, victim-sensitive, trauma-informed services for 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.
Willingness to travel throughout the service area.
Car and a clean, valid New York driver’s license.
Strong computer, administrative, reporting, and data-entry skills.

Nice To Haves

Training or experience in community lawyering or community organizing.
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 assistance to eligible households at risk of homelessness, including eviction prevention, access to mainstream benefits, and referrals to services that support permanent housing.
Collaborate with government and nonprofit agencies providing supportive services, income, shelter, permanent supportive housing, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing, and financial assistance.
Assist clients in maintaining or securing permanent housing and the income necessary to retain it.
Provide eviction defense and assert tenant protections, using 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, temporary assistance, and other income support needed for housing stability.
Provide a full range of legal services, including counsel and advice, referrals, administrative hearing representation, affirmative and defensive litigation, systemic advocacy, community legal education, outreach, engagement, and community lawyering.
Work with Emergency Rental Assistance Program or Right to Counsel Program requirements and compliance, including related data collection.
Collaborate with other LASNNY housing attorneys and paralegals to maximize access to services and address systemic causes of homelessness.
Participate in developing and implementing LASNNY’s race equity priority and the attorney’s professional development plan.