Description:
A Non-Profit Organization is seeking a full-time Staff Attorney to join our housing law practice.Program Description:
A Non-Profit Organization 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.
Housing Unit Description:
The Housing Unit represents clients in Housing Court eviction proceedings, state, and federal court, and administrative hearings. The Unit preserves affordable housing through the representation of low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and affirmative litigation to challenge abusive and discriminatory conduct that displaces low-income families and eliminates affordable housing.
Right to Counsel:
The Right to Counsel law was passed in 2017 after a successful tenant-led campaign by tenant organizers, advocacy groups, and legal services organizations. The ultimate goal of the law is to provide income-eligible tenants who are sued for eviction in housing court with the right to an attorney to defend their case. Right to Counsel attorneys are primarily engaged in eviction defense work in housing court.
Responsibilities:
The Staff Attorney's responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
- Conducting intake and providing full legal representation in housing court proceedings to New York City tenants referred to LSNYC through the right-tocounsel initiative in NYC housing courts, and through other referral sources.
- Litigating cases in housing court, with occasional opportunities to litigate in administrative forums, appellate courts, and other state and federal courts on behalf of people facing eviction.
- Developing expertise in housing court practice, housing programs and subsidies, and public benefits.
- Providing legal advice and counseling to tenants as needed. • Conducting neighborhood-based legal clinics and know-your-rights workshops.
- Identifying trends and recurrent issues for potential impact litigation.
- Providing training to other advocates, tenant associations, community members, and community groups.
- Collaborate and communicate with attorneys, paralegals, and the client regarding advocacy issues, including public benefits, FHEPS applications, and other housing subsidies.
- Conduct community outreach and act as a liaison with community-based organizations and agencies.
- Administrative tasks, including timekeeping, uploading documents, data reporting, and case closing for grant compliance.
- Manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Experience & Qualifications:
- 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 and/or housing law and tenant/landlord issues;
- 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;
- Excellent leadership, analytical, oral, and written communication skills;
- Strong interest in working directly with clients, specifically clients in crisis;
- Strong time management and organizational skills;
- An ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines in a fastpaced environment; and
- Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or another language spoken by the communities we serve is preferred.
