About NYLAG: Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID-19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 113,000 people last year.

Job description: NYLAG’s Tenants’ Rights Unit (“TRU”) is seeking an accomplished and experienced Housing Court practitioner and manager to serve as an Associate Director. . The Associate Director will join a collaborative and collegial management leadership team consisting of a Director, another Associate Director, and Supervising Attorney team, which works closely to shape the direction of the unit, strengthen and support its litigation and advocacy, develop trainings, coach and mentor staff, and identify systemic housing issues to advocate for systemic change both in and outside of the courtroom. In New York City, BIPOC communities face disproportionate risk of housing insecurity, as a result of the long-lasting disparate impacts of systemic racism, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and other micro and macroeconomic factors, which have profoundly harmed immigrant communities and other communities of color. The ideal candidate will understand how housing justice intersects with racial justice and incorporate a race equity lens in tenant advocacy.

In addition to responsibilities in management of the overall program, overseeing the provision of legal services, grant reporting, training, and hiring, the Associate Director will have primary leadership responsibilities for  TRU’s Manhattan Team and will directly supervise the Manhattan team’s Supervising Attorneys.

Duties and Responsibilities    

• Provide strategic leadership and direction as TRU grows.
• Support supervising attorneys to train, supervise, and mentor their staff effectively.
• Develop strategies to improve the unit’s written legal work to enhance its efficacy and equip staff to improve their legal writing. 
• Develop strategies to improve the unit’s oral advocacy skills and support supervising attorneys to equip their supervisees with the skills to enable staff attorneys to excel at court appearances.  
• Oversee and develop systems for intake with other supervisors.
• Manage internal and community partner referrals.
• Ensure compliance with grant reporting and data entry requirements in case management system and files.  
• Model and maintain a professional and collegial work environment that fosters excellent legal outcomes, effective teamwork, and clear communication.  
• Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts.
• Participate in working groups and other meetings regarding the implementation of Right to Counsel and tenants’ rights issues.    
• Develop and provide internal and external trainings, know-your-rights workshops, and presentations to staff and community members.
• Develop systems to expand our policy advocacy, impact litigation, and appeals practices.

Qualifications   

• At least seven years of relevant legal experience.   
• At least two years of supervisory experience as an attorney managing a high-performing team.  
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and social justice.  
• Admitted to New York Bar. 
• At least three years of experience representing tenants in NYC Housing Court.     
• Have strong interpersonal, communication, time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently in a fast-paced environment and to be flexible.

NYLAG’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: NYLAG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Employment type: Full-time

Professional Level: Managerial

Salary Range: NYLAG is a unionized workplace, and salaries are set pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The current salary range for this position is between $104,320 to $140,388.

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, long term disability, commuter benefits, flexible spending accounts (FSA) for Medical and Dependent care.

Application Instructions: Please save resume and cover letter on one pdf.

Covid Vaccination Policy: Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, NYLAG requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

NYLAG is committed to a hybrid work policy for staff whose work does not require their full-time presence in the office. NYLAG’s current policy is that most staff are required to work in NYLAG’s offices or do other in-person work at least two days each week. This policy is subject to change.

 

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