Senior Staff Attorney (Legal Director)

ORGANIZATION: The FHJC is a non-profit civil rights organization that serves New York City and the seven suburban New York counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester. Our mission is to: 1) challenge and eliminate housing discrimination; 2) promote policies that foster open, accessible, and inclusive communities; and 3) strengthen the enforcement of local, state, and federal fair housing laws. Since its founding in 2005, the FHJC investigations have led to legal challenges that have opened more than 81,000 units of housing to previously excluded people, recovered more than $55 million in damages and penalties for housing discrimination victims, and changed the ways many housing providers and government agencies do business. Our large service area, broad range of investigations, excellent policy advocacy, and strong litigation program make the FHJC one of the most effective and highly regarded fair housing organizations in the country.

POSITION SUMMARY: The FHJC is seeking an experienced attorney and leader to serve as its new Senior Staff Attorney, (Legal Director). The Legal Director is responsible for working closely with outside counsel on the FHJC’s enforcement actions, coordinating the FHJC’s attorney referral program, and supporting and advising colleagues in FHJC’s investigative, intake, outreach, and policy programs. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing legal assistance; preparing reasonable accommodation and modification requests for FHJC complainants; managing the Adele Friedman Housing Accessibility Fund; gathering materials and information in response to discovery requests; conducting compliance monitoring activities; reviewing intake and investigative files; and supervision of Fellows and legal interns. The Legal Director works closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. The FHJC does not provide direct legal representation. This position requires a J.D. and New York State Bar Admission.

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represents the FHJC in legal matters and cases where the FHJC is a party or potential party. Attends depositions, mediations, settlement conferences, hearings, and trials related to cases where the FHJC is a plaintiff or potential plaintiff as the legal representative of the FHJC.
• Oversees the participation of FHJC staff in the preparation of responses to interrogatories and document requests and depositions involving FHJC staff.
• Oversees compliance monitoring activities related to settlements and orders in cases where the FHJC has been a plaintiff.
• Coordinates the recruitment of new cooperating attorneys and partnerships with law firms to provide legal representation to the FHJC’s complainants.
• Works closely with cooperating attorneys to provide legal resources and post-referral assistance and support.
• Provides ongoing information about legal developments and legal resources available to cooperating attorneys and FHJC staff.
• Organizes and participates in training for FHJC Cooperating Attorneys and the public.
• Drafts outreach and informational materials.
• Provides legal advice and assistance to other FHJC staff. Works with other FHJC staff to develop and implement systemic investigations that may form the basis for legal challenges designed to secure compliance with fair housing laws and obtain community-based remedies, including the creation of more open, accessible, and inclusive communities.
• Regularly meets with FHJC intake and investigative staff to discuss the status of housing discrimination complaints and investigations.
• Works closely with FHJC Intake personnel to ensure that complaints are timely and fully jurisdictional and that they are supported by credible and admissible evidence.
• Confers with other FHJC staff members about making referrals to appropriate organizations, administrative agencies, and/or FHJC Cooperating Attorneys.
• Recruits, interviews, selects and supervises legal interns.
• Provides Legal Updates and an updated Legal Docket at Board of Director meetings. Attends monthly Litigation Committee meetings.
• Manages the FHJC’s Adele Friedman Housing Accessibility Fund to ensure that funds are being used appropriately in cases where reasonable modification requests have been made.
• Handles, stores, and exercises control over evidence obtained from investigations, complainants and/or witnesses.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum five years’ experience in fair housing and civil rights cases
• Knowledgeable about fair housing laws
• Commitment to vigorous enforcement of fair housing and fair lending laws
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills
• Supervisory skills and/or experience preferred
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with diverse groups of people and organizations
• Highly effective organizational competence and attention to detail
• Problem solving capacity
• Ability to work independently as well as creatively and collaboratively with colleagues
• Capability to work creatively and effectively with diverse groups of people and organizations
• Demonstrated passion for social justice
• Familiarity with communities in the New York metropolitan area

The salary for the role is $85,000 – $100,000 annually. This is a full-time position that includes a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage, paid time off, including parental leave, transportation benefit, stipend for use of personal phone, building gym membership, and an employer matched retirement plan. This position requires work primarily from the FHJC’s office. A moving stipend will be provided where appropriate

LOCATION/CONTACT:

Michele Cortese, Interim Executive Director

Fair Housing Justice Center, Inc.

30-30 Northern Blvd., Suite 302

Long Island City, NY 11101

Website: www.fairhousingjustice.org

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to fhjc@fairhousingjustice.org.

INTERVIEWS WILL NOT BE SCHEDULED UNLESS A COVER LETTER IS SUBMITTED.