Temporary Supervising Attorney, Housing Justice Helplines

The Legal Aid Society•New York, NY

13h

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking an experienced and talented lawyer with a deep commitment to public interest practice and policy to join a dedicated team of managers and staff of attorneys, supervisors, and paralegals as a Temporary Supervising Attorney of the Housing Justice Helpline Program. The Civil Practice’s Housing Justice Helpline provides access to high quality legal assistance via a live answer phone line open Monday through Friday during business hours. The helpline provides callers with information, legal guidance, brief services, and referrals on housing law and related matters impacting New York City tenants. The program provides assistance with a broad range of individual tenant legal matters, including but not limited to holdovers, nonpayment proceedings, HPs, and Housing Authority administrative hearings. The Temporary Supervising Attorney will be responsible for supervising Helpline paralegal case handlers in their day-to-day work on the Housing Justice Helpline. The Temporary Supervising Attorney will also coordinate some grant projects, provide legal leadership, and prioritize legal issues. The Temporary Supervising Attorney participates in Practice-wide management discussions and decision-making and is responsible for maintaining relationships with other stakeholders in the legal, court, and service communities. This position is funded through a temporary grant, and the continuation of the position is dependent on funding availability. The position is funded for an initial period of 12 months, with the possibility of extension based on continued funding and project needs, though continued employment is not guaranteed. If funding is not continued, the Temporary Supervising Attorney will be eligible to apply for other internal positions or be transferred into a comparable position.

Requirements

Admission to the New York State Bar
Excellent litigation skills and experience litigating individual and group cases in various forums
Demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation
Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
Demonstrated commitment to policy advocacy and administrative reform
Experience working with vulnerable populations, including but not limited to seniors
Demonstrated leadership ability
Grant-writing and fundraising experience
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
Commitment to exploring alternative approaches for legal practice
Ability to work in a collaborative team model
Knowledge of Housing law and Benefits law
Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices
Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Nice To Haves

Minimum of three years of legal practice strongly preferred
Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required
Knowledge in housing and rent arrears benefits programs is strongly preferred
Supervisory, mentoring, and management experience preferred
Pro bono, government, public service, and academic experience will be considered, but is not required

Responsibilities

Supervise paralegals, students, and volunteers, ensuring high standards of representation and client service
Collaborate closely with the Director of Innovative Housing Initiatives and housing, benefits, and grants management teams on all aspects of the citywide housing justice practice
Assist with program implementation and reporting, including grant-related documentation
Provide oversight of pro bono initiatives for the helpline
Respond to client, community, and staff concerns
Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategies, and supervise their implementation
Assist with planning and conducting citywide and statewide coalition meetings and task forces
Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and courts
Represent the Civil Practice and Legal Aid in the community
Conduct community education, training, and outreach to promote the work of the office and practice areas
Schedule employee hours, assign work, and approve time off and remote work requests in accordance with LAS policies
Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and apply current employment policies and practices
Conduct supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
Set performance standards for direct reports, provide feedback and coaching, and issue disciplinary actions as needed
Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed
Delegate and document work responsibilities, roles, and procedures to meet departmental goals
Implement management and accountability practices to improve performance
Resolve employee conflicts and complaints, addressing union concerns with guidance from HR
Lead organizational and cultural change within the unit
Participate in continuous professional development and equity-focused learning
Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
Other duties as assigned