About NYLAG: Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating 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. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG's staff of 390 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.
Job Description: NYLAG seeks an experienced housing attorney to become a Supervising Attorney on TRU's Manhattan Team. The Supervising Attorney will join a collaborative and collegial management team, which works closely to shape the direction of the unit, strengthen and support its litigation and advocacy, develop trainings, coach and mentor staff, and identify systemic housing issues to advocate for systemic change both in and outside of the courtroom. In New York City, BIPOC communities face disproportionate risk of housing insecurity, because of the long-lasting disparate impacts of systemic racism, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and other micro and macroeconomic factors, which have profoundly harmed immigrant communities and other communities of color. The ideal candidate will understand how housing justice intersects with racial justice and incorporate a race equity lens in tenant advocacy.
Duties and Responsibilities: The Supervising Attorney's responsibilities will include:
- Provide strategic leadership and direction as a part of TRU management.
- Work alongside the TRU-wide supervisory team to identify and respond to programmatic issues, develop and oversee intake protocols and policies, and other responsibilities as needed to ensure we are able to fulfill our Unit's mission and provide an internal workplace in which our staff feel supported and are able to thrive;
- Supervise a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns within TRU. Supervision will include: holding regular one-on-one supervision meetings with staff; reviewing case lists and intakes with staff, developing legal strategies, setting case priorities and deadlines, reviewing casework in advance of filing, providing support for litigation matters; supervising court appearances; supervising intake; training and professional development of staff.
- Carry a small caseload at your discretion.
- Serve as an internal resource to other NYLAG Units on issues related to housing in New York City.
- Assist with grant management as needed to ensure that program goals and data reporting requirements are met.
- Conduct outreach to impacted communities and community-based organizations.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts.
- Attend meetings with stakeholders, taskforces, courts, partners, funders; and others as needed to further the work of TRU and the needs of the communities we serve, including meetings regarding the implementation of the Right to Counsel/Universal Access and tenants' rights issues in Manhattan and elsewhere in New York City.
- Conduct internal and external trainings, know-your-rights workshops, and presentations to staff and community members.
- Participate in internal and external law and policy committees.
- Identify, support, and assist in advocacy efforts aligned with community needs, including through policy advocacy, testimony, impact litigation, and appeals practices.
Qualifications: NYLAG seeks a highly motivated experienced attorney and dynamic leader with the following qualifications:
- At least four years of relevant legal experience is required;
- A minimum of two to three years' experience representing tenants in housing matters is required, ideally in New York City Housing Court.
- Admission to the New York Bar is required.
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, housing rights, and racial justice.
- Demonstrated ability to model effective team building, collaboration, transparent communication, and conflict-resolution.
- Excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills.
- Experience supervising or mentoring staff, interns, and /or pro bono volunteers is preferred.
NYLAG's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.
Employment type: ☒ Full-time
Professional Level: ☒ Managerial
Salary: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $98,039 and $114,262.
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.
Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on
a single PDF and name the file “Your Last Name, Your First Name NYLAG TRU Supervising Attorney Application”.
Covid Vaccination Policy:Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG's current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG's offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.