Staff Attorney, Tenant Advocacy, CENTRAL ISLIP, LONG ISAND

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Supervising Attorney for our Tenant Advocacy practice group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State.

Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced high levels of oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.

Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.

Position Summary

Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Staff Attorney for our Tenant Advocacy practice group. This position provides legal representation to tenants in eviction proceedings on Long Island, primarily in Suffolk County. The role collaborates with paralegals and the Tenant Advocacy Team to expedite client intake and support case development. The position also works with advocates and attorneys from partner practice groups and organizations to identify additional resources and help preserve clients’ housing.

Benefits

We are an organization that supports and encourages a work/life balance. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package, including:

• 35-hour full-time work week.
• Employee Wellness Activities.
• Health Insurance Coverage.
  • Employer pays 100% premium for a high-quality, co-pay insurance plan.
• 403(b) eligibility - immediately eligible to begin contributing from your paycheck.
• Immediate vesting upon hire - ALL contributions (both employee and employer).
• 1% employer match is eligible after 12 months of employment.
• 3% Non-Elective Annual Contribution made by Empire Justice Center.
  • Benefit is eligible after 12 months of employment.
• Generous vacation, sick, personal, and holiday time.
• Bilingual salary enhancement for qualifying employees.
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
• Voluntary Supplemental Disability.
• Dental Insurance (employee paid).
• Vision Insurance (employee paid).
• $150K Group Term Life Insurance.
• Generous Bereavement Leave.
• NYS Short-Term Disability.
• FSA Eligibility.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel to and work in the Central Islip, Long Island office is required to meet client and organizational needs.
  • This position is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy.
• Provide legal representation to tenants in eviction proceedings in housing courts on Long Island, primarily in Suffolk County.
• Traveling to housing courts on Long Island.
• Experienced and skilled in providing legal advice in a language that is accessible to the client, or eager to develop this skill.
• Work closely with a paralegal and the Tenant Advocacy Team to expedite client intake and case development.
• Collaborate actively with the advocates and attorneys from partnering organizations to find other resources to preserve clients' housing.
• Work closely with the Tenant Advocacy team to identify and assist with related legal needs that these clients may have, including immigration issues, services for crime victims, access to public benefits, and civil rights in housing and language access.
• Impact litigation support, as needed.
• Provide advice and representation to low-income tenants
• Maintain a docket of housing cases, including but not limited to holdover and nonpayment summary proceedings for eviction.
• Assist in community education efforts, including creation of written materials and presentations.
• Due to limited resources, all staff are expected to perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited US law school or international equivalent.
  • Admission to the New York State Bar and in good standing as a member of the NYS bar.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment to assist clients who often need rapid responses.
• Access to reliable transportation capable of traveling to housing courts on Long Island.
• Demonstrated excellence in utilizing the Microsoft 365 Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint), with the ability to learn and adapt to other applications quickly.
• Must demonstrate strong analytical and communication skills, including proficiency in technology that facilitates the delivery of communication, documents, and other materials.
• Must demonstrate excellence in technology systems, facilitating the creation and delivery of communication, documents, and record-keeping, among other tasks.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, with the capacity to manage competing priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Effective decision-making skills.
• Experience in and commitment to working with marginalized communities.
• Supervisory and problem management experience.
• Excellent legal research and report writing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent litigation and legal advocacy skills.
• Ability to work on a team.
• Case Management and Client Management experience.
• Strong collaboration/cooperation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (English & Spanish).