Closing Date: 29th October, 2025
Description:
Job Description:Subject to continued funding and staffing priorities, the City-wide Housing Practice at The Legal Aid Society is seeking Supervising Attorneys to join our brand-new Emergency Response Teams (ERT) in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens Neighborhood Office.
Every day across New York City, hundreds of low-income families end up in the various housing courts seeking immediate assistance as they have been evicted or are facing eviction within the next 24 hours. These critical cases require immediate action. Under this program, a team of supervisors, attorneys, and paralegals will operate as an emergency response team to provide representation to these clients. The ERT provides clients with legal and social services, with the dual objectives of preventing the immediate threat of homelessness, and stabilizing families over time to reduce the risk of homelessness in partnership with social services agencies.
Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation. The Supervising Attorneys report to the Director of the Tenant Defense Housing practice for the assigned borough as well as to the Attorney-in-Charge of the City-wide Housing practice. The Supervising Attorneys will be responsible for the smooth and effective running of the Project in the assigned office. The Supervising Attorneys will also coordinate some grant projects, be a mentor to and supervise new and experienced staff and provide legal leadership in working with other staff to prioritize legal issues. The Supervising Attorneys are involved in all aspects of day-to-day operations and work closely with the Director, other Supervising Attorneys, Staff Attorneys, Paralegals to train, supervise and mentor staff. The Supervising Attorneys participate in Practice-wide management discussions and decision-making and are responsible for maintaining relationships with other stakeholders in the legal, court, and service communities.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
- Supervise staff attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers
- Monitor and maintain a high standard of representation and client service
- Maintain a reasonable individual caseload
- Develop impact and/or affirmative litigation
- Assist with the development, funding, implementation, and reporting of programs
- Coordinate intake
- Provide oversight of pro bono initiatives within the office
- Respond to client, community, and staff concerns
- Evaluate office needs and identify necessary resources to address the needs
- Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies
- Prepare and submit necessary grant-reporting paperwork
- Assist with planning and conducting citywide and statewide coalition meetings and task forces
- Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
- Reinforce and maintain staff accountability
- Train and mentor staff
- Evaluate conflicting demands and prioritize workload
- Develop and maintain community support and relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts
- Represent the Civil Practice and Legal Aid in the community
- Conduct community education, training, and outreach and promote the work of the office, the Housing Practice, and the Civil Practice
- Conduct off-site intake, including during evening hours as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:
- Admission to the New York State Bar
- Will consider full time and part time (minimum 3 days per week) applicants
- Excellent litigation skills and experience litigating individual and group cases in various forums, including state and federal courts
- Demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation
- Knowledge in various practice areas within civil legal services practice
- Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
- Demonstrated commitment to policy advocacy and administrative reform
- Experience working with vulnerable populations, including but not limited to seniors
- Demonstrated leadership ability
- Grant-writing and fundraising experience
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
- Commitment to exploring alternative approaches for legal practice
- Ability to work in a collaborative team model
Preferred Qualifications:
- Minimum of three years of legal practice preferred
- Supervisory, mentoring, and management experience preferred
- Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required
- Pro bono, government, public service, and academic experience will be considered, but is not required