Job Description
The Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project (SNP) provides direct legal and social services in the areas of public benefits access, homelessness, and tenant rights. SNP also engages in policy advocacy and community organizing around homelessness and welfare rights issues led by impacted community members, the Safety Net Activists. SNP is one of NYC’s Right to Counsel providers representing tenants facing eviction in the Bronx and is also active in various grassroots organizing campaigns fighting for systemic change. We are seeking applicants for the Supervising Housing Attorney position. SNP’s Supervising Attorneys provide supervision and support to SNP’s Staff Attorneys and Paralegals in its landlord/tenant practice, while also maintaining a reduced litigation practice.
Primary Responsibilities
- Directly supervise a small team of staff attorneys and paralegal(s).
- Provide support to case handlers to analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies, including reviewing written work and providing support in court as needed.
- Mentor staff attorneys and paralegals to ensure a high standard of legal representation and ongoing professional development.
- Maintain a small individual caseload, providing representation to tenants in eviction proceedings and some affirmative litigation, including housing repairs cases and rent strikes.
- Provide Know Your Rights education and technical assistance to tenants and community partners.
- Participate in the staffing of outreach clinics and attend tenants’ association meetings, including during evening hours from time to time.
- Working across disciplines by collaborating with other attorneys, advocates, and social workers to assess and address client needs.
- Ensure compliance with grant reporting and data entry requirements in SNP’s case management system
- Collaborate with other housing managers to maintain and strengthen SNP program policies, procedures, and protocols.
Qualifications
- Admitted, or eligible for admission, to the New York State Bar
- Minimum 3 years of litigation experience in landlord-tenant law
- Excellent legal research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
- Excellent litigation skills and experience litigating individual and group cases
- A commitment to supporting, training, and mentoring staff attorneys and paralegals
- Sound strategic judgment and the drive to originate and implement practice improvements
- Familiarity with, or interest, in movement lawyering approaches to civil legal services work and working with tenant organizers
- Strong anti-oppression and social justice approach, including a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and housing justice, and experience working with diverse communities
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
- Spanish proficiency is preferred