Supervising Staff Attorney, Preserving Affordable Housing-Queens

Since 1968, BUILD UP JUSTICE NYC (BUJNYC) has provided free legal services for low-income residents of New York City, 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. BUJNYC 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.

BUJNYC seeks a Supervising Staff Attorney will be responsible managing a small team of staff attorneys to preserve habitable and affordable housing for low-income tenants who are living in Queens, New York and who are at risk of displacement. Handling their own reduced case load, they will represent tenants in city, state, and federal court proceedings, administrative hearings, and affirmative litigation meant to assist tenants in obtaining repairs and essential services and otherwise assert and secure their rights. They will also conduct workshop and outreach events to further expand tenant rights and empower communities experiencing the pressures of gentrification and development.

To be successful in this role, you must have Admission to the bar of the State of New York; a minimum 3 years post-law school experience working in New York State civil, Federal, or other relevant public interest litigation; housing law preferable; and a minimum 3 years’ experience working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income communities, community organizations and/or coalitions

You should have a passion for social justice and helping and representing clients in low-income tenant groups, community organizations, and coalitions. As a valued team member, you will have a client-based focus and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The most important competencies for the role are:

• Experience supervising attorneys and paralegals, a plus;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, local organizations and people in desperate crisis;
• Demonstrated ability to interact with clients of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret legal documents, technical procedures, rules or regulations, statues and caselaw;
• Ability to write clearly and informatively with minimal error legal memorandum, briefs, motions, contracts, correspondence, and other legal documentation and ability to vary writing style to meet specific needs;
• Excellent advocacy skills in English, bi-lingual Spanish preferred;
• Ability to work independently with strong motivation to manage a moderate case load, track case data, meet deadlines, and to be flexible;
• Computer proficiency sufficient to independently review and generate legal briefs/writings;
• Ability to maintain up-to-date client information in an internal case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking;
• Collaborate with program director and development team to write narrative reports for grant and contracts;
• Attend meetings and perform administrative tasks related to the work, such as timekeeping and case notes;
• Basic knowledge of New York City and State housing laws and rules; and
• Thorough commitment to Build Up Justice NYC’s mission

How 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. This is a hybrid in-office/remote position based in Jamaica, Queens, NY.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary of $98,300 - 113,200 dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave.

BUJNYC is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting a talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At BUJNYC, 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.

Annual salary of $98,300 - 113,200 dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave.