Senior Staff Attorney II

BronxWorks•New York, NY

21d

About The Position

The BronxWorks model aims to break the cycle of poverty by mobilizing the organization’s extensive resources to apply a holistic and progressive approach, helping individuals and families transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. A crucial component of this continuum of support is BronxWorks Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to those seeking immigration stability, facing eviction, and surviving domestic violence and other crimes. Within BronxWorks Legal Services, the Tenant Defense Program plays a vital role in securing housing stability by representing low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and advocating for essential public benefits to preserve affordable housing. The program supports New York City’s groundbreaking Universal Access to Counsel initiative, which ensures low-income tenants the right to full legal representation in eviction proceedings. The Tenant Defense Senior Staff Attorney role is designed to provide professional development opportunities for attorneys with at least three years of experience, who are still building toward supervisory roles and includes a salary increase above the staff attorney scale. In addition to handling casework and meeting other staff attorney responsibilities, the Senior Attorney will work closely with a supervising attorney to mentor junior staff and law graduates. This includes accompanying law graduates to court, signing stipulations, pleadings, and motions on their behalf, and offering guidance on case strategy, legal research, and court filings. Moreover, the Senior Attorney will support the professional growth of less experienced staff through mentorship and training and provide constructive feedback. They will also assist in leading legal team meetings, CLE trainings, and strategic planning sessions.

Requirements

A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in New York State (or eligibility to be admitted on motion or by waiver).
At least three (3) years of experience practicing law, with substantial litigation and trial experience. Experience in New York City Housing Courts or with landlord-tenant matters is strongly preferred, but candidates with equivalent experience in other jurisdictions will be considered.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice and serving low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
Proven ability to leverage transferable skills, including trial advocacy, legal writing, strategic case planning, and litigation management, to excel in a fast-paced legal environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and conduct outreach in under-resourced neighborhoods.
Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage a diverse and dynamic caseload generated by a universal access to counsel intake system where clients are legally entitled to representation.

Nice To Haves

Supervisory or Leadership Experience: Prior experience mentoring or supervising junior attorneys, law graduates, or legal interns, particularly in housing or tenant defense work.
Advanced Litigation Experience: Extensive experience litigating complex housing matters, including trials, appeals, and handling high-volume caseloads in housing court.
Experience with Housing Subsidy Programs: In-depth knowledge of New York City housing programs, such as Section 8, NYCHA, and other rental assistance or housing subsidy programs.
Proficiency in Multiple Languages: Fluency or proficiency in additional languages commonly spoken in the Bronx, such as Spanish, French, Arabic, or Mandarin.
Community Engagement: A track record of working with community organizations, conducting know-your-rights workshops, or engaging in tenant organizing or advocacy.
Experience in Public Benefits Advocacy: Familiarity with public benefits programs (e.g., SNAP, SSI, cash assistance) and advocating for clients to secure these benefits in addition to housing stability.
Training and Development Skills: Experience leading Continuing Legal Education (CLE) trainings, workshops, or providing structured legal training to colleagues or law students.
Knowledge of Anti-Displacement Strategies: Experience in fighting against tenant harassment and displacement, particularly in gentrifying neighborhoods, through both litigation and policy advocacy.
Tech Savviness: Experience using legal tech tools like LegalServer, Clio, eCourts, or document automation platforms to streamline legal practice and improve efficiency.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise junior attorneys, law graduates, paralegals, and/or other assigned staff, including assigning and monitoring work, setting priorities, approving schedules, and ensuring adherence to legal and program standards.
Conduct formal performance evaluations of direct reports and provide written and verbal recommendations on promotions, terminations, disciplinary actions, and salary adjustments; such recommendations are given particular weight in final employment decisions.
Hold staff accountable for meeting deadlines, data quality standards, and program deliverables, and take corrective action where performance does not meet expectations.
Hold staff accountable for attending in-person meetings, including weekly unit meetings and monthly department-wide meetings.
Mentor and train staff, including accompanying junior attorneys and law graduates to court, providing guidance on legal strategies, and offering constructive feedback on case preparation and litigation.
Approve leave requests and work schedules for supervised staff and reallocate resources as needed to meet program needs.
Assist in leading legal team meetings, CLE trainings, and strategic planning sessions.
Exercise independent judgment in directing the work of others to ensure that client needs and contract requirements are met.
Supervise intake processes and join a weekly court supervision rotation with other supervisors to ensure quality representation and adherence to program standards.
Maintain regular office hours and participate in a weekly rotation of in-office and site supervision at the Tenant Defense Program site in the Bronx.
Attend meetings regarding the case management system to provide input on its buildout, ensuring it meets funder requirements, facilitates collection of impact data, and is configured to the program’s needs for clarity, efficiency, and ease of use.
Fully understand data reporting and compliance requirements and enforce data quality standards across the team, ensuring timely and accurate entry of case outcomes, services provided, and other reportable metrics.
Provide comprehensive legal representation to tenants referred to BronxWorks through the Universal Access to Counsel initiative and other referral sources.
Litigate in various forums including housing court, appellate courts, and administrative tribunals, including NYCHA tenancy termination proceedings and housing benefits hearings.
Provide full legal representation, including: counsel clients on all available legal defenses and strategies; regularly communicate with clients to ensure they are informed on all pertinent information about their case; negotiate with outside counsel; engage in motion practice; present oral arguments at hearings and court conferences; conduct discovery and depositions; prepare for and conduct evidentiary hearings and trials; and advocate with government agencies and external providers on clients’ behalf.
Develop and apply expertise in housing court practice, housing programs and subsidies, and public benefits to secure the best possible client outcomes.
Participate in court-based intake processes and conduct intakes.
Engage in client and community outreach and education initiatives.
Attend and actively participate in all weekly unit meetings and department-wide all-staff meetings in person to ensure collaboration, case coordination, and alignment on program goals.
Perform other duties as assigned