Staff Attorney - Housing Unit (Tenant Rights Coalition)

The role

The Staff Attorney will represent low-income tenants in eviction defense and affirmative litigation. The role involves collaborating with tenant organizers and conducting community outreach on Staten Island.

What you will do

• Representing clients in individual housing matters, including eviction defense proceedings.
• Litigating multi-plaintiff affirmative cases addressing repairs, overcharges, harassment, and other housing-related issues.
• Appearing in civil, supreme, and federal court, as well as in administrative proceedings.
• Collaborating with tenant organizers, tenant associations, and community partners.
• Attending and/or supporting tenant meetings at buildings throughout Staten Island.
• Conducting outreach and off-site intake, workshops and clinics with community partners.
• Providing training to advocates, tenant associations, community members, and community groups.
• Working in a team environment with legal and non-legal members.
• Maintain online case files within the office case management system.

Required qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Admitted or be in the process of being admitted to practice law in the State of New York
• Strong demonstrated background and experience in public interest, litigation, housing, landlord/tenant, and/or related advocacy
• Experience working with diverse low-income communities and familiarity with structural and systemic racism and their intersection with poverty
• Commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity
• Strong interest in working directly with clients, specifically clients in crisis
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Superb analytical, oral, and written communication skills

Nice to have

• Strong ties to or understanding of the Staten Island low-income communities
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken by the communities we serve

Benefits

• Hybrid remote work policy
• excellent benefits package
• access to our internal Justice Learning Center
• opportunities to earn free CLEs
• opportunities to gain experience as a trainer

Before you apply

• Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted
• Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled

About the company

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) is the largest civil legal services provider in the country. Staten Island Legal Services (SILS) is a part of Legal Services NYC.