Description:

The Opportunity:
We are seeking an experienced attorney to join our Public Benefits Unit (“PBU”) as a Supervising Attorney in our Housing-Public Benefits Initiative. In partnership with our Right to Counsel (“RTC”) Housing Unit and Tenant Rights Coalition (“TRC”) Unit, our PBU fights to retain, obtain, or increase public benefits, including cash public assistance, SNAP, WIC, HASA, and rent subsidies (such as FHEPS and CityFHEPS). The Unit will also specialize in health law issues, helping people obtain or retain public health insurance and services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and home- and communitybased services. Our housing and public benefits staff will work hand in hand to achieve the greatest results for our clients and provide the highest quality holistic services.

In partnership with our Housing unit supervisors, the Supervising Attorney will shape the direction of our housing-related public benefits practice, identify systemic benefits-related trends, and bring affirmative litigation to challenge policies, statutes, and rules that unfairly and unlawfully deny equal access to public benefits.

Among other responsibilities, the Supervising Attorney will:

Supervise a team of 3-5 advocates;
Handle administrative and grant responsibilities;
Collaborate with our Housing Units, RTC and TRC;
Create and conduct a training program for public benefits advocates
Evaluate, assess, and reimagine our housing-related public benefits practice; and
Carry a small caseload.

Our ideal candidate is a creative social justice attorney and manager who excels at working with teams, is an outstanding teacher and mentor, understands the bureaucratic maze that is public benefits, and recognizes the over-sized role diversity, equity, and inclusion issues play in our clients' and teams' lives.

The Supervising Attorney is expected to work closely with our Directors of Housing practices, our Director of Intake, and other supervisors in Brooklyn and across LSNYC.

Experience & Qualifications:

An attorney licensed to practice law in New York;
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;
Excellent persuasive writing and editing skills;
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and the ability to provide supportive and consistent supervision to attorneys, paralegals, and support staff in a fast-paced and high-volume practice;
An excellent collaborator who enjoys working with, and being a part of a team;
Significant experience (at least five years) in public benefits, including command of cash public assistance, SNAP, rent subsidies, and emergency assistance grants rules, processes, and pitfalls;
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and utilization of DEIB lens in the project, work, and supervision;
An ability to adapt quickly and correct course;
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with an aptitude for building relationships with people across disciplines, job titles, and agencies;
Grace, kindness, and empathy, particularly when under pressure, for our clients, team, and agency partners;
Excellent teacher, facilitator, educator, trainer, coach, and mentor;
Belief in our ability to create systemic change and commitment to working towards that goal;
Consummate project management skills, including command of time management and organizational skills, staying on top of multiple projects, planning backward, anticipating obstacles, identifying and involving stakeholders appropriately, and using resources wisely;
Prior experience (at least two years) representing tenants in nonpayment and holdover proceedings in NYC, and working knowledge of housing laws, court procedures, public benefits, and best practices in the field;
Fluency or proficiency in Spanish or another language commonly spoken by NYC residents preferred, but not required; and,
Mentoring/supervising a group of advocates in a fast-paced environment, and providing trainings and supervision to newer advocates preferred, but not required.