STAFF ATTORNEY – HOMEOWNER DEFENSE PROJECT

STATEN ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES

Staten Island Legal Services (across the street from the ferry), is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney to join our homeowner defense/foreclosure prevention practice. 

Program Description

Staten Island Legal Services (SILS) fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic
justice for low-income New Yorkers. SILS provides high-quality, innovative
representation to address the pressing legal needs of Staten Island’s diverse low-income
populations. SILS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients —
preserving affordable and decent housing, preventing foreclosures, representing survivors
of domestic violence, assisting in obtaining government benefits, obtaining immigration
status and preventing deportations, and advocating for the LGBTQ community, students
with educational needs and people with disabilities.

SILS is a part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), which is the largest provider of civil legal services in the country. LSNYC provides numerous opportunities for growth and professional development and prides itself on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts. As a social justice organization, we are committed to fighting for a workplace that is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as possible for everyone. Our DEIB committee and numerous affinity groups work to foster collegial relationships among staff and allow staff to explore and advocate
for racial justice and anti-oppression growth within our organization and through our legal
work. All employees are expected to learn about, seek to understand, and work to realize
our DEIB goals.

Homeowner Defense Project

SILS provides holistic, creative legal representation and advocacy to prevent foreclosures and address the pressing legal needs of Staten Island’s low and moderate income homeowners. SILS’ Homeowner Defense Project is one of the most effective programs in the state, achieving affordable, long-term homeownership for its clients. SILS uses federal and state litigation, policy advocacy, negotiation, and community education to assist low- and moderate-income homeowners at risk of foreclosure due to predatory lending or abusive loan servicing practices. The Project is actively litigating numerous cases, including appeals, against the nation’s largest banks. The Project also works to preserve homeownership by representing homeowners in administrative hearings on building violations, and representing surviving family members in Surrogate’s Court proceedings. Further, the Project engages in policy advocacy to address social justice and fair lending issues. The staff attorney will be supervised by the HDP Director.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Staff Attorney’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Direct client advocacy (via both in-court and non-litigation efforts, including applying for grants, property tax exemptions, and loss mitigation).
• Intake, community education, and community outreach.
• Active participation in foreclosure-prevention-oriented taskforces and working groups citywide, statewide, and nationwide.
• Active support of foreclosure-prevention law and policy objectives through coalition work, collaboration with other advocates on, e.g., amicus curiae briefs or white papers.
• Administrative tasks, including timekeeping, file maintenance, uploading documents, data reporting, and case closing for grant compliance.

Requirements:

• Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school;
• Admitted or be in the process of being admitted to practice law in the State of New York;
• Strong demonstrated background and experience in public interest, litigation, foreclosure defense, housing, or consumer law;
• Experience working with diverse low-income communities and familiarity with structural and systemic racism and their intersection with poverty. Strong ties to or understanding of the Staten Island low-income communities is a plus;
• Commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity;
• Strong interest in working directly with clients, specifically clients in crisis;
• Strong time management and organizational skills;
• Superb analytical, oral, and written communication skills; and
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken by the communities we serve is helpful but not required.

Salary determined by Collective Bargaining Agreement. Hybrid remote work policy, and excellent benefits package.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample.

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.

Salary and benefits are determined by the LSNYC Collective Bargaining Agreement. Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people over the age of 40 are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional information about the practice may be found on our website, www.legalservicsnyc.org.

Dependent on work history and experience.