Description:

Current Opening
Under the supervision and guidance of A Groundbreaking Nonprofit Organization's Civil Defense Supervisor, the Staff Housing Attorney's core responsibilities will be to help us further expand our interdisciplinary work and assist our clients in a wide variety of matters, including preventing eviction, securing repairs and otherwise maintaining safe housing, and obtaining and maintaining public benefits. Staff attorneys will work closely with Family Defense, Criminal & Youth Defense attorneys, Social Work and Parent Advocacy staff, Housing Specialists, Client Coordinators and other support staff. Therefore, strong interpersonal and communications skills are required. This is a unique opportunity for a competent and creative professional to assist A Groundbreaking Nonprofit Organization in expanding its civil practice and improving the stability of our clients and families.

This position will have a docket of housing cases in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, including holdovers, nonpayment proceedings, HP actions, NYCHA and other administrative hearings.

The Staff Housing Attorney will:

Respond to client referrals from A Groundbreaking Nonprofit Organization staff, provide advice and counsel, and open cases for litigation where appropriate;
Monitor housing and other civil legal developments and create advisories, best practices and other resources for A Groundbreaking Nonprofit Organization staff;
Assist clients in completing necessary paperwork and attending appointments if appropriate; participate in Civil Practice team meetings as well as agency wide meetings;
Identify systemic housing and public benefits issues impacting A Groundbreaking Nonprofit Organization's clients and explore advocacy to address those;
Maintain data on their work and outcomes, including deliverables related to funding for civil legal services work;
and assist with external legal education efforts, including the planning and provision of workshops, drafting and development of legal education materials, and outreach to social service and community based organizations.

Qualifications:

Candidates for this position should have a minimum of two (2) years of experience representing indigent clients in housing court and administrative fair hearings related to housing as well as public benefits.
Experience with social security benefits, including administrative hearings, is a plus. Candidates who are bilingual in Spanish are strongly encouraged to apply.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, an ability to work as part of a team and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor.