Supervising Attorney (Tenant Rights Coalition Unit)

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer. 

Bronx Legal Services seeks  an experienced attorney to join the Tenant Rights Coalition Unit supervisory team.

Our Organization

Bronx Legal Services is the largest provider of free civil legal services in the borough and is part of Legal Services NYC’s network of local programs throughout New York City. Bronx Legal Services’ mission is to advance society’s promise to the most vulnerable members that they are entitled to equal access to our legal system.

The Bronx Legal Services Tenant Rights Coalition (“TRC”) works on anti-displacement advocacy in the Bronx, focusing on supporting Bronx communities facing significant housing needs in light of rapid and potentially disruptive neighborhood changes and gentrification. TRC is comprised of a dedicated attorneys and paralegals who work to preserve decent affordable housing and prevent displacement and harassment.

We are looking for candidates who are excited to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle and support litigation and advocacy on various issues, coordinate building-wide and community-based litigation, and organize community education outreach and related initiatives. We are looking for candidates who are excited to work in a fast-paced environment and to use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice. 

Responsibilities include directly supervising the work of TRC staff attorneys representing clients in both individual housing matters and multi-plaintiff affirmative cases, as well as supervising the work of paralegals providing litigation and administrative support. The TRC Supervising Attorney is expected to supervise regular appearances in civil, supreme, and federal court and administrative proceedings, review draft pleadings, motions, and court submissions, and support the filing of affirmative cases on behalf of tenants and tenant groups. The TRC Supervising Attorney will be expected to maintain a personal case load, work closely with tenant organizers, tenant associations, and community partners to identify and address housing needs. They will be expected to oversee and conduct weekday, evening, and weekend outreach and off-site intake with our partners.

The TRC Supervising Attorney will work closely with the management team of TRC to shape the direction of the Tenant Rights Coalition work in the Bronx. The supervising attorney will work closely with the Unit Director, Deputy Director, and other Supervisors to shape the direction of the Unit, develop and strengthen relationships with partner community organizations, and identify systemic housing-related trends that could be affected by strategic litigation.

Additionally, the ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• A demonstrated passion for social justice and commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color;
• Demonstrated expertise in local, state, and federal housing law and policy, housing court practice, housing programs, and subsidies, and public benefits;
• Experience litigating affirmative cases of individuals or on behalf of groups of tenants, including motion practice and conducting discovery;
• Excellent legal writing, litigation, and advocacy skills;
• Strong interpersonal, teaching/training, and organizational skills;
• Strong ties to the communities of the Bronx (preferred);
• Experience working with community-based organizations and/or enthusiasm for partnering with community-based advocates and organizations; and
• An ability to speak Spanish is preferred but not required.

Prior experience working with community-based organizations and proficiency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken in the communities we serve is preferred.

LSNYC staff can work remotely up to 50% of the time, job duties permitting.

Salary is commensurate with experience. Benefits include excellent health and dental insurance, an employer contribution to a pre-tax 403(b) pension plan, and generous leave time.

How to Apply

To apply for the position, send a cover letter, resume, names of three references, and two recent writing samples below. 

Bronx Legal Services is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are all welcome and encouraged to apply.

 

 

Dependent on work history and experience.

Salary Range$108,360—$173,376 USD

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.