Fall 2026 Right to Counsel Staff Attorneys/Law Graduates

Legal Services NYC • New York, NY

15d • $88,181 - $169,852 • Hybrid

About The Position

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.
LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer.
Legal Services NYC Seeks Fall 2026 Right to Counsel Housing Staff Attorneys and Law Graduates
Do you want to start your career in the courtroom? Are you excited to engage in motion practice, conduct oral advocacy, and handle trials from the beginning of your career? Do you want to use your legal degree to push forward social justice and help every day New Yorkers protect their homes & communities?
Legal Services NYC seeks law graduates and/or staff attorneys to join our Fall 2026 class of Right to Counsel (RTC) attorneys as we continue to implement New York City’s groundbreaking Right to Counsel law. The attorneys in our dynamic, high-impact housing unit are engaged in cutting edge litigation, in court, every single day, helping build tenant power and prevent evictions for tens of thousands of New Yorkers every year.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
New York City’s Right to Counsel law, passed in 2017 after a successful tenant-led campaign by tenant organizers, advocacy groups and legal services organizations, is the first law in the nation to provide income-eligible tenants who are sued for eviction in housing court with the right to an attorney to defend their case.

LSNYC's housing practice helps realize this promise of this law and represents low-income tenants defending their homes and seeking to enforce the numerous tenant protections they are rightfully entitled to. Our litigators defend tenants in many different settings, including in eviction proceedings in housing court, representing tenants in administrative hearings, bringing affirmative litigation in state and federal court, and handling appeals at all levels.

The work of RTC Housing Unit attorneys will involve developing expertise in housing court practice, housing programs and subsidies, and public benefits. The attorneys will be expected to perform community outreach and provide legal information, advice, and counsel, both in clinical and informal settings. The attorneys will also be expected to perform trainings for other advocates, tenant associations, community members, and community groups. We are looking for candidates who are excited to work in a fast-paced environment and to use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice.
The anticipated start date of this position will be September 2026.

Requirements

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission (or seeking admission) to practice law in the State of New York.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and conduct community outreach in low-income neighborhoods.
• Excellent advocacy, analytic, writing, and leadership skills.
• Strong time management and organization skills including the ability to handle a diverse, fast-paced caseload generated by a Right to Counsel civil defender practice where clients may have a legal entitlement to representation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in housing, landlord/tenant, or related advocacy, preferred.
• Fluency or proficiency in either Spanish or a language other than English that is frequently used by our clients is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conducting intake and providing full legal representation in housing court proceedings to New York City tenants referred to LSNYC through the Right to Counsel initiative in NYC housing courts, and through other referral sources.
• Litigating cases in housing court, administrative forums, appellate courts, and other state and federal courts on behalf of people facing eviction, and in affirmative cases challenging agencies and actors who threaten New York City residents' ability to obtain and retain affordable housing.
• Developing expertise in housing court practice, housing programs and subsidies, and public benefits.
• Providing legal advice and counseling to tenants as needed.
• Conducting neighborhood-based legal clinics and know-your-rights workshops.
• Identifying trends and recurring issues for potential impact litigation.
• Providing trainings to other advocates, tenant associations, community members, and community groups.

Benefits

• Salary is pursuant to our collective bargaining agreement.
• Salary Range for a position starting in September 2026 (based on years’ experience) is as follows: 1-10 years: $88,181 – $113,737 11-20 years: $116,338 – $137,347 21+ years: $143,685 – $169,852
• LSNYC’s Expansive Benefits Package includes: exceptional healthcare with low copays (for which employees pay only 1% of their salaries per year), comprehensive dental insurance, a vision plan, generous vacation days (21 days the first year; 28 days/year thereafter) that people routinely use, plus 14 paid holidays and 18 sick days/year.
• We provide industry-leading parental leave (on average six months) as well as coverage for fertility treatment.
• Employees with student loan debt also have access to our internal Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
• All non-managerial staff, including those hired in this position, are part of one union.
• The position is hybrid permitting 50% remote work, job duties permitting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees