Staff Attorney

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families.

Intro/Program Description: The Goddard Riverside Law Project provides free legal services and organizing support to low-income individuals, families, and groups of tenants in the west side of Manhattan. Our mission is to empower tenants and preserve affordable housing through advocacy, legal representation, relationship building, and grassroots education. We aim to protect tenants’ rights and hold bad actors accountable while working towards establishing pro-tenant laws and sound housing policy through city and statewide coalition work. To these ends, we integrate tenant voices and collaborate with the community, particularly SRO tenants and marginalized populations.  

Schedule: Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salary Range: $70,000 (Law Graduate) $75,000 - $112,616 (compensation based on experience and Local 2320 union scale).

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties

• Represent low-income individuals and tenant groups in housing-related litigation – in particular non-payment, holdover and repairs-related cases –  in the state court system, including Housing Court and appellate courts; 
• Advocate for clients with various administrative agencies for matters including rent overcharge, harassment, public assistance, rent arrears grants, and Section 8 benefits; 
• Handle full case load from intake interview through negotiation/litigation, including motion practice and trial, to resolution;  
• Advise individual tenants, tenant groups, and tenant organizations on legal rights and strategies; conduct know-your-rights trainings, housing clinics and workshops; 
• Conduct legal research, write legal memoranda;  
• Assist in identifying and developing impact litigation;  
• Work with tenant organizers to do outreach and represent tenant associations in various courts and administrative agencies; 
• Participate in developing organizing and legal strategies in furtherance of the Project’s efforts to protect and preserve permanent affordable housing.  

Qualifications/Educational Requirements 

• Admitted, or pending admission, to the New York State Bar;  
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice work;  
• Experience representing or working with tenants, or low-income individuals and households;  
• Familiarity with New York State and City housing-related issues and laws;  
• Strong research and writing skills;  
• Fluency in Spanish or French is required. 

Computer Skills: 

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should be comfortable operating Microsoft Office programs, especially Outlook, Word and Excel. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Frequent travel to court, especially Manhattan Housing Court.  

Work Environment: 

• Hybrid/Office and court settings; 
• Staff attorneys may need to visit clients in their homes and conduct tenant meetings in buildings where the tenants reside. 

How to Apply: 

• Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample. 
• Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. 
• No telephone calls, please. 

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.