Staff Attorney, Office of the General Counsel

Company Overview:

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC (formerly Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A) has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy. Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Position Summary:

The Staff Attorney will be responsible for managing a variety of legal matters that support BUJ’s operations and general practice areas. Specific areas of focus include but are not limited to commercial contracts; providing general legal research; developing/implementing policies and procedures; supporting pro-bono program; and researching and advising on risk management, compliance, litigation, governance, etc. They will collaborate with across all programs to draft, interpret, and provide guidance and counsel and assist with client litigation cases as needed

The Staff Attorney will primarily be responsible for:

• Draft and review contracts, funder and grant agreements, memoranda of understanding and other legal documents as needed.
• Review and update regularly proprietary program-specific manuals and handbooks, including model documents;
• Ensure resources are aligned with training objectives and legal standards;
• Prepare necessary compliance and progress reports utilizing the case management system to ensure timely recording of case notes, data, and documentation ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory standards, and preparation of necessary compliance reports;
• Maintain legal training program and workshops which shall include collaborating with experts, managing logistics, and ensuring the relevance and quality of learning content;
• Maintain and support the expansion of the pro bono referral program by identifying and cultivating law firms and other potential volunteers/partners to maintain and grow stakeholder engagement;
• Manage the legal internship program ensuring meaningful opportunity that will benefit both the interns and BUJ NYC;
• and
• Provide litigation support and co-counseling as needed;

A successful candidate will have:

• Admission to the bar of the State of New York;
• Experience working as in-house counsel and corporate compliance experience;
• 1-4 years’ experience working in New York civil and/or Federal, or other relevant public interest litigation; transactional and/or housing law preferable;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, local organizations with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret legal documents, technical procedures, rules or regulations and statues and case law;
• Excellent advocacy skills in English, bi-lingual Spanish preferred;
• Collaborative approach to work and a demonstrated capacity to lead and reach consensus with colleagues throughout the organization;
• Familiarity with the requirements of a multi-focus legal practice, and experience overseeing compliance with legal and ethical obligations;
• Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, including the ability to address legal and other complex issues in clear, persuasive terms for a wide variety of audiences;
• Successful supervision of case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking;
• Comfort working under tight timelines and navigating a variety of stakeholders and competing priorities and interests with grace and good humor, while ensuring quality and accountability; and
• Thorough commitment to BUJ NYC’s mission.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary is $82,225-88,725 depending on years of experience. Great benefits package such as, employer paid health insurance; 27 days annual vacation, employer 4% contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave. This is a hybrid in-office/remote work position.

To Apply

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role.

Build Up Justice NYC (BUJ NYC) is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At BUJ NYC, diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff.

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.