Supervising Attorney, Housing-Related Government Benefits (Brooklyn & Bronx) - New York, NY

The Legal Aid Society's Civil Practice is seeking experienced and talented lawyers with a deep commitment to public interest practice and policy to join a dedicated team of managers, staff attorneys, social workers, supervisors and support personnel as a Supervising Attorney of the Government Benefits work of Housing Attorneys and Paralegal Casehandlers in the Brooklyn and Bronx Neighborhood Offices.

The Government Benefits work may include but is not limited to representation, legal assistance, legal advocacy and education to clients who need income and related supports from city, state and federal programs. The Supervisor will provide support to housing advocates representing low-income tenants in housing-related matters who seek assistance relating to benefits cases, including rent arrears, grants from city agencies and charities. They will supervise housing case handlers in their work which will include representing clients at administrative hearings and advocacy with NYC HRA and NYS OTDA to ensure they are receiving the maximum benefits to which they are entitled. They will coordinate with citywide initiatives related to all government benefits. They will also work with other Supervisor to build their substantive knowledge and skills related to public benefits generally and rent subsidy and arrears advocacy, in particular.

The Supervising Attorney reports to the Housing Director and Attorney-in-Charge of their office and will be primarily responsible for the efficient provision of benefits advocacy in housing cases. The Supervising Attorney will coordinate and collaborate with the supervisors of Government Benefits Unit in either the Brooklyn or Bronx offices to create Practice-wide training and advocacy programming for benefits advocates. The Supervising Attorney will be a mentor to and supervise experienced and new staff and provide legal leadership in working with other staff to prioritize legal issues. They will also provide support on grant projects. The Supervising Attorney participants in Practice-wide management discussions and decision-making and is responsible for maintaining relationships with other stakeholders in the legal, court, and service communities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervise, mentor, and train and paralegal casehandlers
• Participate in structural and strategical planning for the benefits work within the housing practice of their respective neighborhood office
• Identify office needs and resources needed for the Neighborhood Office and participate in management team responsibilities to meet those needs
• Represent clients in state and federal administration and court proceedings
• Monitor and maintain a high standard of representation and client service
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication
• Reinforce and maintain staff accountability
• Assist with the implementation and reporting of programs including necessary grant reporting
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies under the supervision and at the direction of the direction of the Director of Housing and in consultation with the Director of Government Benefits develop impact and/or affirmative litigation
• Respond to clients and community
• Assist with planning and conducting citywide and statewide coalition meetings and task forces
• 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 off-site intake, including during evening hours as needed
• Other duties as assigned

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Admission to the NYS Bar and a willingness to apply for admission to the federal courts (S.D.N.Y., E.D.N.Y., Second Circuit) as it may become necessary
• Minimum of three years of legal practice required
• Minimum of one year of supervisory and management experience preferred or relevant experience such as leadership positions in a membership organization
• Experience in government benefits required
• Experience litigating in various judicial and administrative forums
• Excellent litigation skills, oral and written advocacy skills
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law, civil legal services, policy advocacy, administrative reform, and addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation
• Experience conducting trainings preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
• Commitment to exploring alternative approaches for legal practice
• Ability to work in a collaborative team model
• Proficiency in languages other than English preferred

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $99,444 - $163,507

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society

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

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of 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, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

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. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

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.