Staff Attorney

Legal Aid Society of Mid New York•Utica, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Tenant Defense Project helps tenants across Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, and the Southern Tier maintain safe, healthy, and stable housing. This position focuses on community outreach and education. The Staff Attorney reaches tenants as early as possible, informs them of their rights, and connects them with legal help and financial assistance before a housing problem becomes an eviction. The Staff Attorney will build relationships with community organizations to host in-person Know Your Rights events in Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, and Lewis Counties and will create and deliver online events for tenants in all thirteen counties LASMNY serves. The attorney assesses tenants’ legal needs following each event and coordinates with intake staff to conduct onsite screenings. The attorney also serves as liaison to the local departments of social services in all thirteen counties for tenants with legal needs and helps eligible tenants access LASMNY’s rental arrears and security deposit program. The position is based in the Utica office. It requires regular travel throughout Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, and Lewis Counties and some evening work.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Master of Laws (LL.M.) from an accredited law school.
Eligible for admission to practice law in New York State. Law school graduates registered for the New York State Bar Exam, or eligible for admission on motion, are encouraged to apply.
Valid New York State driver license and access to reliable transportation, with the ability to travel regularly to community sites and events.
Excellent public speaking, written, and organizational skills, with the ability to explain legal concepts in plain language to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and serving communities facing systemic barriers to justice.
Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, and manage multiple events and projects at once.

Nice To Haves

Admission to practice law in New York State with zero to five years of experience.
Experience in landlord-tenant law.
Experience in community outreach, community organizing, or building partnerships with community organizations.
Experience developing and presenting educational programs, both in person and online.
Familiarity with rental assistance programs and the emergency assistance and public benefits programs administered by local departments of social services.
Knowledge of the communities and service providers in Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, and Lewis Counties.
Proficiency in languages other than English.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, human service providers, and other local partners to host Know Your Rights events in Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, and Lewis Counties.
Create and deliver in-person Know Your Rights presentations on landlord-tenant law and housing security, tailored to the tenants and communities served.
Create and deliver online Know Your Rights events for tenants in all thirteen counties LASMNY serves.
Triage the legal needs of tenants following Know Your Rights events and refer tenants for advice and representation.
Coordinate with intake staff to conduct onsite screening at in-person events.
Serve as liaison to the local departments of social services in all thirteen counties for tenants with legal needs, maintaining working relationships with agency staff and coordinating referrals between the departments and LASMNY.
Educate tenants, community partners, and agency staff about LASMNY’s rental arrears and security deposit program.
Help eligible tenants access rental arrears and security deposit funds, including gathering required documentation and coordinating with landlords and LASMNY staff to complete payment.
Stay current on landlord-tenant law, housing assistance programs, and eviction prevention strategies, and update Know Your Rights materials to reflect changes.
Work at community sites, including during evening hours, to make events accessible to tenants.
Maintain accurate, timely, and complete records of outreach events, referrals, and time in the case management system in compliance with LSC regulations, LASMNY policies, and grant reporting requirements.
Collaborate with Tenant Defense Project attorneys, intake staff, and partner organizations, and serve as an ambassador for LASMNY in the community.
Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and case consultations.
Exhibit a strong commitment to advancing the mission of LASMNY.