Staff Attorney - Housing Unit (Tenant Rights Coalition)
About The Position
Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) is the largest civil legal services provider in the country, dedicated to fighting poverty and seeking racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, LSNYC has addressed systemic injustices and provided essential legal services in areas such as housing, income security, family stability, immigration, education, and healthcare. The organization employs over 600 people across five boroughs and partners with numerous community organizations, public agencies, and legal professionals to maximize its impact. LSNYC offers employees opportunities for professional growth and development through its internal Justice Learning Center, which provides free CLEs and training experience. This specific role is for a Staff Attorney in the Housing Unit, specifically within the Tenant Rights Coalition (TRC) team at Staten Island Legal Services (SILS). SILS focuses on critical legal needs of Staten Island's low-income populations, including housing preservation, foreclosure prevention, domestic violence representation, government benefits assistance, immigration, and advocacy for various communities. The Housing Unit aims to preserve affordable housing and prevent family displacement by representing low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and engaging in affirmative litigation against abusive and discriminatory practices. The TRC team works collaboratively with tenants and community partners to prevent evictions, secure repairs, address harassment, and support collective tenant actions.
Requirements
- A 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.
Benefits
- Opportunities for growth and professional development
- Access to internal Justice Learning Center for free CLEs and trainer experience
- Hybrid remote work policy
- Excellent benefits package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
