What are the responsibilities and job description for the Impact Unit Attorney – Affirmative Litigation Focus, New Windsor position at Legal Services of the H?
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
http://www.lshv.org
Job Type: Impact Unit Attorney – New Windsor
About Us
For more than 50 years, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has been providing free, high-quality legal counsel in civil matters when basic human needs are at stake including: eviction and foreclosure prevention, domestic violence, disability, elder law, healthcare, consumer fraud and more. Our services support almost 600,000 poor and low-income families and individuals who cannot afford an attorney in our seven-county service area. With the gap separating those who can and cannot afford legal representation widening each day, we work to ensure that everyone has equal access to justice, regardless of their ability to pay. As the only provider of comprehensive civil legal services in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley (Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan), LSHV is proud to have handled over 12,000 cases impacting nearly 30,000 household members including 10,000 children last year. LSHV is made up of ten offices, and a dedicated and highly skilled staff of attorneys, paralegals and administrative professionals.
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is dedicated to building a highly skilled workforce that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels supported to bring their authentic selves to work. We are committed to promoting equity for all, and we continuously review and strengthen our processes and practices to support our staff, clients and the communities we serve. Respect is a cornerstone of relationships among our staff.
Position description: LSHV has an immediate opening for a full-time staff attorney, with a focus on affirmative litigation and appeals in housing matters, within our Impact unit. The attorney will report to the Attorney-in-Charge of the New Windsor office regarding all matters except their legal work which will be supervised by the Director of Litigation. The purpose of the position is to increase the systemic impact of our work.
Duties: Identifying causes of action to assert tenants’ warranty of habitability rights and bringing affirmative cases; evaluating litigation strategies with housing attorneys and their supervisors to improve apartment conditions; working with tenants’ organizations to identify bad actors; coordinating with private attorneys seeking redress for the health effects caused by landlord neglect; working with the Director of Litigation to conduct periodic trainings on topics such as evidence of apartment conditions, recent decisions and legislation; researching, writing, perfecting and arguing appeals in coordination with the trial court attorney; assisting attorneys and their supervisors in litigation strategies which increase the likelihood of a successful appeal; evaluating potentially appealable orders where the litigant had been pro se and assisting attorneys and their supervisors in evaluating appealable orders; with the Director of Litigation, attend state-wide advocate meetings, conferences and other events where civil legal services’ issues are addressed and collaborate with other organizations. Travel to state Supreme Courts in Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan and Ulster counties is expected, as well as occasional travel to Albany for in-person oral argument at the Appellate Division. Occasional appearances at evening tenant events in these counties may be required.
Qualifications:
- Three years litigating in New York housing courts with extensive motion practice and trial experience;
- Extensive work on two or more complex matters related to warranty of habitability;
- Exemplary research and writing skills;
- Ability to identify, plead and prove causes of action that will have the most impact
Requirement:
- Driver’s license and transportation (e.g., car)
Preferred:
- Experience litigating in justice courts;
- Experience in state Supreme Court;
- Experience with federally subsidized housing
Salary: $78,850 - $145,784, DOE, union scale, with excellent benefits that include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage, as well as a defined contribution to a 403 (b), loan repayment assistance, and paid parental leave. After a brief probationary period, this position may permit work from home up to two days per week. Professional development includes access to job-related training, a Mentoring Program, and an Emerging Leaders Program
Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Salary : $78,850 - $145,784