Housing Paralegal

The Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project (SNP) provides direct legal and social services in the areas of public benefits access, homelessness, and tenant rights. SNP also engages in policy advocacy and community organizing led by impacted community members. SNP is one of NYC’s Right to Counsel providers representing tenants facing eviction and is also active in various grassroots organizing campaigns fighting for systemic change. We are seeking a Housing Paralegal who is looking for a creative and non-traditional environment, working with passionate and dedicated advocates in the fight against gentrification, displacement, and racist housing systems.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide paralegal support and legal service tasks including preparing retainers, filing court papers, drafting legal documents, preparing and filing subpoenas, and compiling motion
• Communicate with clients by phone and through written correspondence, create and maintain client files, and manage referrals and appointments
• Obtain rent histories, NYCHA case files, Section 8 files, and conduct preliminary building/apartment research for housing cases
• Maintain a small caseload of non-court involved cases, handled under attorney supervision, including NYCHA termination of tenancy cases
• Apply for rent arrears assistance through government programs and private charities for tenants facing eviction
• Outreach to tenants and community groups and work on group cases, clinics and workshops

Qualifications/Skills:

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-accredited paralegal program or Bachelor's degree. Alternatively, a minimum of 2 years paralegal, advocate, or jailhouse lawyer experience will be accepted.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, advocates, and social workers.  
• Commitment to social justice and anti-oppression work, including the fight for racial justice and housing justice.
• Spanish proficiency or a commitment to learn Spanish is strongly preferred

Salary and Compensation

A competitive salary based on experience and excellent benefits package are available, with generous vacation, personal, and sick time, along with industry leading medical and dental coverage. This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW, Local 2320. Subject to work needs, the Safety Net Project also offers flexible hours and remote work options.

The Safety Net Project is an equal opportunity employer. SNP encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, immigrants, domestic violence survivors, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and people with personal experience with the criminal justice system. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities we serve, of homelessness or housing instability, or of the benefits system.

The Urban Justice Center is temporarily working remotely. COVID-19 vaccination is required, subject to applicable law.