Staff Attorney - Housing Unit (Tenant Rights Coalition)

Legal Services NYC•Staten Island, NY

22h•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. The Opportunity We are looking for a candidate who is excited to work in a fast-paced environment and to use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice. The Housing Unit works to preserve affordable housing and fight family displacement through representation of low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and affirmative litigation to challenge abusive and discriminatory conduct, particularly on Staten Island’s North Shore. The TRC team collaborates with individuals and tenant groups to prevent evictions, secure necessary repairs, pursue harassment claims, and support collective tenant action, sometimes in partnership with community-based organizations.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school
Admitted or in the process of being admitted to practice law in the State of New York
Strong demonstrated background and experience in public interest, litigation, housing, landlord/tenant, and/or related advocacy
Experience working with diverse low-income communities and familiarity with structural and systemic racism and their intersection with poverty.
Commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity
Strong interest in working directly with clients, specifically clients in crisis
Strong time management and organizational skills
Superb analytical, oral, and written communication skills

Nice To Haves

Strong ties to or understanding of the Staten Island low-income communities is a plus
Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken by the communities we serve is helpful but not required

Responsibilities

Representing clients in individual housing matters, including eviction defense proceedings.
Litigating multi-plaintiff affirmative cases addressing repairs, overcharges, harassment, and other housing-related issues.
Appearing in civil, supreme, and federal court, as well as in administrative proceedings.
Collaborating closely with tenant organizers, tenant associations, and community partners to identify and address housing needs including but not limited to attending and/or supporting tenant meetings at buildings throughout Staten Island.
Conducting outreach and off-site intake, workshops and clinics with community partners.
Providing training to advocates, tenant associations, community members, and community groups.
Working effectively in a team environment with both legal and non-legal members to better serve clients and the community.
Maintain online case files within the office case management system to ensure compliance with various grants.