Temporary Staff Attorney, Shelter and Economic Stability Project

NYLAG•New York, NY

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. NYLAG’s staff of 370 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year. NYLAG has an opening for a temporary, 1-year staff attorney, to begin in June 2026, who will work in the Public Benefits Unit (PBU) focusing on access to homeless shelter, cash public assistance and food stamps. The PBU Shelter and Economic Stability Project represents clients seeking to obtain or maintain shelter and/or benefits from the NYC Department of Social Services, including the Human Resources Administration and the Department of Homeless Services. The attorney will work with the Shelter and Economic Stability Project to provide community-based services to clients engaging with the New York City shelter system including expanding outreach efforts, community intake and advice, and representation of clients experiencing homelessness or lacking access to critical benefits. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to direct service work and have strong writing, oral advocacy, and client communication skills.

Requirements

Admission to New York Bar or passage of a recent NY Bar Exam or equivalent.
One to three years of civil legal services, clinical, fellowship, and/or clerkship experience preferred.
Demonstrated interest in social justice.
Ability to work in and value a collaborative team model.
Experience working with diverse populations.
Demonstrated ability to handle escalated client situations
Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently
Excellent written, oral and analytical skills

Responsibilities

Intake and represent individual clients experiencing homelessness or lacking access to critical benefits in obtaining appropriate shelter and public benefits
Training community partners on issues regarding homelessness, shelter, and public benefits
Know your rights trainings for clients and potential clients
Practice principles of cultural humility and client-centered lawyering
Train and manage clinic students, volunteers, and interns, as needed
Engage in policy work to influence City and State-level laws, regulations, policies and practices regarding homelessness, shelter, and public benefits
Engage in impact litigation regarding laws, regulations, policies and practices regarding homelessness, shelter, and public benefits
Track, draft, and generate reports for grant management, as needed
Interact with a diverse client population in a sensitive and professional manner
Work with and mentor pro bono attorneys, volunteers, and law students working with NYLAG
Other duties as assigned