Staff Attorney, Group Representation - Preserving Affordable Housing Program-Brooklyn

Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A•New York, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Since 1968, Brooklyn A has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy. Brooklyn A has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed. The Group Representation Staff Attorney will represent low-income tenant associations confronting landlords harassing low-income residents and seeking to vacate buildings; individuals and families facing eviction; low-income tenant co-ops seeking to reinforce and sustain themselves; community institutions facing closures or adverse actions due to extraordinary market pressures and neighborhood displacement; low-income tenants in fair housing litigation; as well as community groups involved in struggles against pervasive housing discrimination, neighborhood segregation, and other issues critically affecting the future of their communities. They will handle a full caseload of representation non-payment, holdover, HP, 7A, and harassment proceedings in housing court, which involves frequent motion practice, discovery, and depositions, communication with clients, negotiations with opposing counsel and advocacy with outside agencies on behalf of clients. They will also conduct workshop and outreach events to ensure that tenants are aware of their protections under housing laws.

Requirements

Admission to the bar of the State of New York
Have a passion for social justice and helping and representing clients in low-income tenant groups, community organizations, and coalitions
Experience working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income tenant groups, community organizations and/or coalitions
Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment
An understanding of the City’s housing market and/or experience in housing law practice
Ability to work independently with strong motivation, to manage a high caseload, to meet deadlines, and to be flexible
Have excellent legal writing, litigation and advocacy skills
Computer proficiency sufficient to independently review and generate materials relevant to the position
Willingness, desire, and ability to attend evening meetings.

Nice To Haves

Language proficiency relevant to our clients, especially Spanish

Responsibilities

Handle a full caseload of representation non-payment, holdover, HP, 7A, and harassment proceedings in housing court, which involves frequent motion practice, discovery, and depositions, communication with clients, negotiations with opposing counsel and advocacy with outside agencies on behalf of clients.
Conduct workshop and outreach events to ensure that tenants are aware of their protections under housing laws.
Maintain up-to-date client information in Brooklyn A’s case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking
Collaborate as needed with program managers and development team to write narrative reports for grant and contracts
Attend meetings, and perform administrative tasks related to the work, such as timekeeping and case notes
Demonstrated ability to publish articles effectively advocating on behalf of clients and Brooklyn A
Attend evening meetings.