Mobilization for Justice, Inc. (MFJ), a non-profit legal services organization that provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers, is seeking a staff attorney for its Consumer Rights and Foreclosure Prevention Projects. The attorney will be part of two projects that use a multi-prong approach to providing legal services and effecting reform in the consumer and foreclosure law area, including: defending debt collection and foreclosure actions; initiating affirmative/impact litigation; working in coalition with advocacy groups on policy issues; providing testimony and comments on proposed legislation and regulations; conducting trainings; and communicating with elected officials and the media.

Mobilization for Justice is a 120+ person staff comprised of attorneys, paralegals, social workers and support staff. It is a diverse, unionized, and collegial workplace where staff share the organization’s mission to achieve social justice, prioritizing the needs of people who are low-income, disenfranchised or have disabilities. The staff attorney will work at Mobilization for Justice’s Manhattan office.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Conducting client intake on an intake line, in person, at community-based organizations and/or at court-based clinics, sometimes in the evenings;
Research and writing;
Defending and prosecuting consumer cases, drafting complaints, engaging in motion practice, writing and arguing appeals and amicus briefs, and assisting with applications to discharge student loans;
Identifying issues for impact or class action litigation or policy initiatives, including white papers and legislative advocacy campaigns;
Advocating in various forums on important consumer issues, including drafting testimony for public hearings;
Reaching out to the community and conducting trainings; and
Inputting and maintaining records in case management system.
Requirements:

Admission to NYS Bar.
Up to two years of experience with defending debt collection cases in civil court and/or advising pro se litigants in debt collection cases; experience with CLARO a plus.
Knowledge of consumer and foreclosure law areas, including student loans, debt collection, and credit reporting.
Litigation experience in state and/or federal court.
Excellent research and writing skills.
Ability to balance working on complex litigation, handling individual casework, and advocating for legislative or policy changes.
Willingness to register as a lobbyist with New York City and New York State.
Advocating for legislative or policy changes.
Fluency in Spanish, a Chinese dialect or another language spoken by immigrant populations in New York City is preferred.
Salary is pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.