Description:
The Tenant Advocacy Program assists Queens residents on a wide-range of legal matters, provides know-your-rights education and organizes tenants to assert their rights and advocate for better housing laws. The attorney will provide legal representation for individual tenants and tenant groups in Queens,and will collaborate with A Non-Profit Organization' tenant organizers, as well as with attorneys and staff from the other A Non-Profit Organization programs to ensure that clients receive holistic legal services.The attorney will be based in our Sunnyside, Queens office. As of September 6th, A Non-Profit Organization staff will work three days in the office and two days remotely until further notice.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Represent clients in housing-related litigation matters, including but not limited to individual and group cases, such as nonpayment proceedings, holdover proceedings and HP actions in Housing Court; administrative proceedings at DHCR and the New York City Commission on Human Rights; and Article 78 proceedings in Supreme Court;
- Conduct intake and provide legal advice to tenants we are unable to represent;
- Work with A Non-Profit Organization' organizers to provide legal services in collaboration with our tenant organizing efforts;
- Assist in community outreach and education efforts related to housing legal services;
- Assist in planning and implementation of strategic projects related to housing legal services; and
- Manage caseload and maintain client files in good working order. Maintain and update case list and client and case information in case management.
Qualifications:
- Strong commitment to social and economic justice, and community empowerment;
- Ability to regularly travel to Queens Housing Court and community events;
- Excellent written, oral and analytical skills;
- Excellent organizational skills;
- Basic computer skills;
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently; and
- Ability and experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and
Preferred Qualifications:
- At least 2 years of previous experience practicing in housing law;
- Experience as a community organizer, or working with community organizers; and
- Competency in one or more languages (other than English) commonly spoken in Queens.
