Public Housing Justice Project Supervising Attorney

About NYLAG

Founded

in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group provides free civil legal services

to low-income New Yorkers. The organization serves immigrants, seniors, the

homebound, families facing foreclosure, renters facing eviction, low-income

consumers, those in need of government assistance, children in need of special

education, domestic violence victims, persons with disabilities, patients with

chronic illness or disease, low-wage workers, low-income members of the LGBTQ

community, Holocaust survivors, and others in need. The organization’s annual

operating budget is over $30 million. Serving more than 87,000 New Yorkers

annually, New York Legal Assistance Group maintains a paid staff of

approximately 290, supported by 2,200 pro bono attorneys and other volunteers

and interns. For more information, applicants are encouraged to visit

www.nylag.org.

Mission

The New York Legal Assistance Group uses the power of the law to help New Yorkers in need combat social and economic injustice. We address emerging and urgent legal needs with comprehensive, free civil legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community education.

Values that guide us

• We reduce the effects of poverty by providing high quality, effective civil legal services.
• We partner with our clients to help them transform their lives and strengthen their communities.
• We address our clients’ multiple legal needs by collaborating across our practice areas.
• We are at the forefront of identifying and understanding New Yorkers’ most pressing legal needs, rapidly adapting to meet these needs with innovative programs and partnerships.
• We assess need broadly, recognizing that need is not a function of income alone.
• We collaborate with community organizations and engage pro bono attorneys and volunteers to serve a greater number of people with unmet civil legal needs.
• We achieve systemic change through class actions, impact litigation and by advocating for just laws and policies.
• We work to create a welcoming and inclusive work environment that reflects the communities we serve.
• We teach and train the next generation of legal service professionals.

Job Description:

The Public Housing Justice Project (“PHJP”) within NYLAG’s Tenants’ Rights Unit (“TRU”) is the first team of legal advocates in New York solely dedicated to the rights of public housing residents. Created in response to the full implementation of Right to Counsel at the NYCHA Office of Impartial Hearings (“OIH”) in 2021, PHJP staff attorneys represent NYCHA residents in Section 9 and Section 8 termination proceedings and grievances at the OIH, as well as in nonpayment and holdover proceedings, HP Actions and Article 78s in judicial fora across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. PHJP maintains a robust outreach practice with monthly community clinics and outreach events.

PHJP is looking for an experienced attorney with strong leadership and management skills who is passionate about community lawyering, asserting tenants’ public housing rights, fighting hard to defend NYCHA tenants in termination of tenancy proceedings, and asserting claims on behalf of NYCHA tenants across various venues in New York City. In this role, you will supervise PHJP staff attorneys in their representation of NYCHA and RAD-PACT residents, and collaborate with the Project Director and other TRU supervisors on internal referrals, case assignments, and cross-team collaboration. PHJP consists of five Right to Counsel staff attorneys, one Section 8 specialist, one fellow, and one paralegal. PHJP supervisors also periodically provide outreach support at PHJP events across New York City.

You will be joining a collaborative and collegial management team consisting of 19 Supervising Attorneys, two Associate Directors, and a Director, [AL1] which works closely to shape the direction of the unit, strengthen and support its litigation and advocacy, develop trainings, coach and mentor staff, and identify systemic housing issues to raise the level of practice. The ideal candidate will have some supervisory and/or leadership experience as an attorney (or in another role) and extensive experience representing NYC tenants in NYCHA termination of tenancy proceedings, non-payments, holdovers, and HP Actions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction, train, supervise, and mentor attorneys, paralegals and interns
• Review and revise attorneys’ written legal work to enhance its efficacy and equip staff to improve their legal writing
• Prepare staff attorneys and paralegals to excel at administrative and court appearances and appear with them as necessary
• Oversee NYCHA intake and supervise TRU’s hotline with other supervisors
• Manage internal and community partner NYCHA-related referrals
• Ensure compliance with grant reporting and data entry requirements in case management system and files
• Model and maintain a professional and collegial work environment that fosters excellent legal outcomes, effective teamwork, and clear communication
• Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts;
• Support PHJP outreach events across the city
• Participate in working groups and other meetings regarding the implementation of Right to Counsel
• Collaborate and provide trainings and know-your-rights workshops to staff and community members.

Qualifications:

• At least five years of experience as an admitted attorney
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team
• Admitted to New York Bar
• At least two years of experience representing tenants in NYC Housing Court and NYCHA administrative proceedings
• Have strong interpersonal, communication, time management and organizational skills. Ability to multi-task, work independently in a fast-paced environment and to be flexible.
• Supervisory experience as an attorney a plus
• Fluency in Spanish, French, Russian, Haitian Creole, Bengali, or another foreign language prevalent in NYC a plus

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type:

☒ Full-time

Professional Level:

☒ Managerial

Salary: The salary range for this position is $111,009 to $113,515.

Benefits: Excellent benefits.

How to Apply: Please attach your cover letter and resume as a single PDF and name the file “Your Last Name, Your First Name NYLAG TRU PHJP Supervising Attorney Application”