Supervising Staff Attorney, PAH-Brooklyn

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC (BUJNYC) has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy. BUJNYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Position Overview:

The Supervising Staff Attorney will be responsible managing a small team of staff attorneys to preserve habitable and affordable housing for low-income tenants who are living in Brooklyn, New York and who are at risk of displacement. Handling their own reduced case load, they will represent tenants in city, state, and federal court proceedings, administrative hearings, and affirmative litigation meant to assist tenants in obtaining repairs and essential services and otherwise assert and secure their rights. They will also conduct workshop and outreach events to further expand tenant rights and empower communities experiencing the pressures of gentrification and development.

Essential Job Functions:

• Coach and supervise the legal work of PAHB staff attorneys and assist attorneys with resolving representation strategies and professional responsibility obligations;

• Provide training and mentorship to staff members, and provide technical expertise and knowledge of best practices;

• Ensure their teams case notes, filings, court attendance tracking are up to date and accurate as per established policies;

• Perform client intake and screening, investigate and develop litigation strategies, and provide advice, counsel, advocacy and brief services to tenants in housing court, clinical programs and community events;

• Represent tenants in summary eviction proceedings, as well as HP and Article 7-A proceedings based on conditions and/or harassment;

• Use technical knowledge and experience, 2nd seat/co-chair/partner with staff attorneys on challenging and complex cases;

• Conduct legal research and keep current on relevant emerging caselaw and statutory developments;

• Prepare and draft legal documents, pleadings, motions briefs and appeals;

• Conduct discovery and depositions, and communicate with clients, negotiate with opposing counsels, and advocate with outside agencies on behalf of clients;

• Collaborate with colleagues, stakeholders, and program partners on challenging and complex cases;

• Draft and update programmatic, educational, and resource materials for clients and outreach events, as requested;

• Conduct trainings for community-based organizations and coalitions including, but not be limited to, Know-Your-Rights housing workshops, clinics, and other educational outreach activities to empower tenants and communities;

• Attend client meetings and participate in community outreach efforts promoting program services which may occur during evening and weekends as necessary;

• Present to community groups and represent Build Up Justice NYC to external stakeholders;

• Maintain data in an internal case management system, and assist with gathering data for grant reporting;

• As an emerging team leader, provide feedback and mentorship to staff attorneys and ability to represent the team; and

• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Skills and Experience:

• Admission to the bar of the State of New York;

• A minimum 3 years post-law school experience working in New York State civil, Federal, or other relevant public interest litigation; housing/tenant law experience required;

• Experience supervising attorneys and paralegals, a plus; and

• Minimum 3 years’ experience working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income communities, community organizations and/or coalitions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, local organizations and people in desperate crisis;

• Demonstrated ability to interact with clients of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret legal documents, technical procedures, rules or regulations, statues and caselaw;

• Ability to write clearly and informatively with minimal error legal memorandum, briefs, motions, contracts, correspondence, and other legal documentation and ability to vary writing style to meet specific needs;

• Excellent advocacy skills in English, bi-lingual Spanish preferred;

• Ability to work independently with strong motivation to manage a moderate case load, track case data, meet deadlines, and to be flexible;

• Computer proficiency sufficient to independently review and generate legal briefs/writings;

• Ability to maintain up-to-date client information in an internal case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking;

• Collaborate with program director and development team to write narrative reports for grant and contracts;

• Attend meetings and perform administrative tasks related to the work, such as timekeeping and case notes;

• Basic knowledge of New York City and State housing laws and rules;

• Must be available to work hybrid work schedule with 3 days in-office/2 days remote with some nights and weekends as required; and

• Thorough commitment to Build Up Justice NYC’s mission.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This is a hybrid in-office/remote position based in Brooklyn, NY.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary $101,000 - $120,000 dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave.

Build Up Justice NYC is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting a talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Build Up Justice NYC, diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff.

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.