Staff Attorney, Housing Justice Tenant Defense (Staten Island)

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice has experienced and entry-level Staff Attorney positions available in the Staten Island Tenant Defense unit. The Tenant Defense unit handles a broad range of individual and group tenant representation at the trial and appellate levels, including holdovers, nonpayment proceedings, administrative hearings, and affirmative litigation in state and federal courts. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Client representation and advocacy with city, state, and federal agencies and in court proceedings, administrative hearings, and affirmative litigation 
• Conduct regular courthouse-based and off-site intake, including during evening hours  
• Provide training, community outreach, and education to individuals, local community-based organizations, and housing advocates 
• Engage in policy advocacy including advocacy before legislative, administrative, and judicial bodies to advance the interests of clients 
• Represent and promote the work of the office, the Civil Practice, and The Legal Aid Society in the community 
• Work collaboratively with other organizations, pro bono lawyers, and partners 
• Maintain a full caseload of clients 
• Other duties as assigned 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications: 

• Admission to New York State Bar or eligible for immediate waiver 
• Excellent written, analytical, organizational and oral advocacy skills 
• Demonstrated commitment and interest in serving racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities 
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services 
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, and manage a high volume of cases 

Preferred qualifications:   

• Experience in landlord tenant law preferred 
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required 

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles. 

Salary Range: $84,000 - $152,500

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits. 

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness 

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.  

studentaid.gov 

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs 

WORK AUTHORIZATION 

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.) 

HOW TO APPLY 

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: 

• Cover Letter
• Resume 

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms. 

Salary : $84,000 - $152,500