Staff Attorney, Tenant Advocacy

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Practice Group: Tenant Advocacy

I. Organization Information

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Staff Attorney for our Tenant Advocacy practice group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State.

Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced high levels of oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.

Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.

II. Position Summary

Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Staff Attorney who will be a critical member of the Tenant Advocacy practice group. The Tenant Advocacy Staff Attorney will represent tenants in eviction proceedings on Long Island in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, working with the Tenant Advocacy Paralegal and Tenant Advocacy Team to expedite client intake and case development.

III. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Travel to and work in the Long Island Hempstead office is required to meet client and organizational needs.

      o This position is eligible for a hybrid work request under the organizational policy. 

• Travel to the housing courts on Long Island; 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment to assist clients who often need rapid responses; 

• Assist in community education efforts, including creating written materials and presentations; 

• Work closely with a paralegal and the Tenant Advocacy Team to expedite client intake and case development; 

• Provide legal representation to tenants in eviction proceedings in housing courts in Nassau and Suffolk counties; 

• Potential impact litigation to address systemic problems such as lack of affordable housing and inhabitable conditions; 

• Experienced and skilled in providing legal advice in a language accessible to the client; 

• Maintain a docket of housing cases, including but not limited to holdover and nonpayment summary proceedings for eviction; 

• Collaborate actively with the advocates and attorneys from partnering organizations to find other resources to preserve clients' housing; 

• Provide advice and representation to low-income tenants and tenant associations in neighborhoods facing intense displacement pressure; 

• Work closely with the Tenant Advocacy team to identify and assist with related legal needs that these clients may have, including immigration issues, services for crime victims, access to public benefits, and civil rights in housing and language access;

• Please note that all positions will supervise other practice group members if needed.

• Due to limited resources, all staff are expected to perform administrative and other support-related duties to serve our clients and fulfill our mission as a non-profit legal services organization.

• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor and/or to meet the organization’s needs.

IV. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited US law school or international equivalent;

     o Admission to practice in New York State and good standing or admission pending;

• Minimum of 1 year of professional experience;

• Commitment to working with diverse and impoverished clientele;

• Effective decision-making skills and the ability to work under pressure and to shift priorities while working on multiple competing projects and deadlines.

• Excellent legal research and writing skills;

• Excellent organization and ability to meet deadlines;

• Excellent communication skills;

• Case Management;

V. Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (English & Spanish) Preferred.