Supervising Attorney, Housing Related Government Benefits (Brooklyn)

Overview

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice’s Housing Justice Unit – Tenant Defense seeks an experienced lawyer to join as Supervising Attorney. The role supports a team of managers, staff attorneys, supervisors, paralegal case handlers, and support personnel. The Housing Justice Program engages in eviction defense and affirmative litigation, handling a broad range of tenant representation at trial and appellate levels, including holdovers, nonpayment proceedings, HPs, Housing Authority administrative hearings, and state and federal court appeals.

The Supervising Attorney, with the Director of Housing and the supervisory team, will ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the Housing Justice Program in the assigned office. The Supervising Attorney reports to the Borough Director of Housing and Attorney-in-Charge and will supervise a team of Housing Attorneys and Paralegal Casehandlers. They will also work with the Housing-related Government Benefits Supervising Attorney to oversee Government Benefits work of Housing Attorneys and Paralegal Casehandlers in the Brooklyn Neighborhood Office. The Government Benefits work may include representation, legal assistance, legal advocacy and education to clients needing income and related supports from city, state and federal programs. The Supervisor will support housing advocates representing low-income tenants in housing-related matters seeking assistance relating to benefits cases, including rent arrears and grants from city agencies and charities. They will supervise housing case handlers, including representing clients at administrative hearings and advocating with NYC HRA and NYS OTDA to ensure maximum benefits are received. They will coordinate with citywide initiatives related to all Housing and government benefits.

They will collaborate with other Supervisors to build substantive knowledge and skills related to Housing and public benefits generally, and rent subsidy and arrears advocacy in particular. The Supervising Attorney will coordinate and collaborate with the Brooklyn Housing related Government Benefits supervisor and with the Government Benefits Unit to create practice-wide training and advocacy programming for housing and benefits advocates. The Supervising Attorney will also coordinate, mentor, and supervise staff, provide leadership, and prioritize legal issues. The Supervising Attorney participates 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

Housing Supervision Duties

• Supervise, mentor, and train staff attorneys and paralegals
• Monitor and maintain a high standard of representation and client service
• Collaborate and work closely with the Director of Housing, Housing Coordinators, and the housing, benefits and grants management teams on all aspects of the housing practice
• Participate in structural and strategical planning for the benefits work within the housing practice of their respective neighborhood office
• Identify needs and resources for the Brooklyn Neighborhood Office and participate in management team responsibilities to meet those needs
• Coordinate intake
• Represent clients in local, state and federal administrative and court proceedings
• Develop and maintain community support and relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts
• Reinforce and maintain staff accountability
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies under the supervision and at the direction of the Director of Housing and in consultation with the Director of Government Benefits develop impact and/or affirmative litigation
• Conduct community education, training, and outreach and promote the work of the office, the Housing Practice, and the Civil Practice
• 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

Team Development and Supervision

• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following LAS policy and procedures
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required 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
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience conducting trainings preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent research, writing, analytical, organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as manage staff attorneys and paralegal case handlers

• Experience in government benefits required
• Experience litigating in various judicial and administrative forums
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services, as it relates to addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
• Commitment to exploring alternative approaches for legal practice
• Ability to work in a collaborative team model
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
• Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Physical, Environment, Travel, and Other Duties

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region

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 factors including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

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

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

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. 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, visit studentaid.gov and 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. (For citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status 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
• Writing Sample

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email [email protected]

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, religion or creed, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, relationship and family structure, 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 aim to build strong professional relationships with clients and colleagues and expect ongoing learning about identity, bias, and systemic oppression to dismantle bias in all forms.

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