SUPERVISING STAFF ATTORNEY – HOUSING UNIT

Staten Island Legal Services (across the street from the ferry), the Staten Island office of Legal Services NYC (“LSNYC”), seeks one Supervising Attorney for its Housing Unit.

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. 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. 

The Opportunity

We are looking for a candidate who is excited to work in a fast-paced environment and to use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice. The Housing Unit works to preserve affordable housing and fight family displacement through representation of low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and affirmative litigation to challenge abusive and discriminatory conduct, particularly on Staten Island’s North Shore.

The Supervising Attorney will supervise advocates in obtaining government benefits for clients, including CityFHEPS, FHEPS, SCRIE/DRIE, SNAP, Cash Assistance, Unemployment Insurance, and Social Security.  They will ensure tenants already facing eviction or at risk of facing eviction secure the government benefits and assistance they need to prevent default judgments and unnecessary eviction filings. They will also carry a small caseload and provide supervision and coverage in housing court when necessary.

In collaboration with the Unit Director, the Supervising Attorney will supervise, as needed: client intake; representation before administrative agencies, including DHCR; and case strategy and litigation planning, including for eviction defense cases and affirmative impact litigation. In addition to the qualifications below, the ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with a keen interest in supervising a practice in a community-based law office, and a demonstrated ability to jump-start litigation or community-based campaigns and to collaborate with other staff to see such initiatives through to fruition.

They will report to the Unit Director to implement for the Unit’s litigation and advocacy work. Potential goals of affirmative litigation in which the Supervising Attorney may be involved include advancing tenants’ rights, broadening fights for benefits access, and preventing eviction cases from ever reaching housing court in the first place. In addition, they support administrative and grant-related responsibilities associated with the Unit’s work.

Experience and Qualifications

• Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and be admitted to practice in New York.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant litigation and advocacy experience, particularly related to housing, public benefits and rent subsidies.
• Experience working in a supervisory role and/or leadership role.
• A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
• Excellent analytical, written, and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to provide supportive and consistent supervision to staff in a fast-paced and high- volume practice.
• Experience working with diverse low-income communities and familiarity with structural and systemic racism and its intersection with poverty. Strong ties to or understanding of Staten Island’s low-income communities is a plus.
• Strong interest in working directly with clients, specifically clients in crisis.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.

How to Apply: Interested individuals should upload their resume, cover letter, and writing sample to the portal.

Salary is commensurate with experience. Hybrid remote work policy, and excellent benefits package. 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.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Please no telephone calls.

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