Agency Attorney L3 for the Housing Litigation Division (HLD)

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking city agency dedicated to ensuring safe and affordable housing for all New Yorkers. As an Agency Attorney L3, you'll play a pivotal role in litigating housing maintenance and tenant harassment cases, making a real impact in the community. Your expertise will help enforce critical housing laws and support vulnerable tenants, while collaborating with a dedicated team of professionals. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change in the city’s housing landscape, all within a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Qualifications

• Admission to the NY State Bar and legal experience required.
• Experience in housing maintenance and tenant harassment cases preferred.

Responsibilities

• Litigate cases in Housing Court to enforce housing standards.
• Negotiate disputes between landlords and tenants regarding housing issues.

Skills

Litigation

Negotiation

Legal Document Preparation

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

Admission to New York State Bar

Legal Experience

Tools

HPDINFO

LMS

Job description

Job Description

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city's housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.

• We maintain building and resident safety and health
• We create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability
• We engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity.

HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness,” Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To support this important work, the administration has committed $5 billion in new capital funding, bringing the 10-year planned investment in housing to $22 billion — the largest in the city’s history. This investment, coupled with a commitment to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, is a multi-pronged strategy to tackle New York City’s complex housing crisis, addressing homelessness, housing instability, promoting economic stability and mobility, increasing homeownership opportunities, and improving health, safety, and equitable growth.

Your Team

The Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services (OENS) leads the agency’s effort to work closely with other HPD divisions and outside community partners to identify buildings in distress, assess and develop strategies to address those properties, and work with responsible owners to improve conditions and restore buildings to financial and physical health. OENS employs enforcement tools within its Division of Code Enforcement, Housing Litigation Division, Emergency Operations and Enhanced Enforcement, and the Division of Neighborhood Preservation.

Your Impact

The Housing Litigation Division (HLD) initiates litigation against property owners in Housing Court to ensure compliance with housing standards in the NYC Housing Maintenance Code and NYS Multiple Dwelling Law. HLD seeks orders to correct violations, civil penalties, access warrants, the appointment of 7-a Administrators, and is a statutory party in tenant-initiated proceedings.

The Anti-Harassment Unit (AHU), within HLD, focuses on building conditions related to tenant harassment and construction-related harassment. AHU analyzes data to identify buildings where harassment occurs or is likely to occur, engaging with tenants and communities through enforcement efforts including inspections, research, and litigation as needed.

Your Role

As an Agency Attorney L3, Managing Attorney, for the AHU, under the direction of the Assistant Commissioner and/or Supervising Attorney, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Litigating cases on behalf of HPD’s Enforcement and Neighborhood Services to enforce NYC Housing Maintenance Code and NYS Multiple Dwelling Law in Housing Court and occasionally in NYS Supreme Court.
• Handling complex cases with significant financial, procedural, and policy implications involving housing maintenance and tenant harassment.
• Negotiating disputes between landlords and tenants regarding housing issues.
• Preparing and reviewing legal documents such as briefs, motions, opinions, affidavits, and other legal papers.
• Conducting trials and hearings, including witness interviews, testimony preparation, and evidence gathering.
• Assessing cases and providing recommendations.
• Supporting administrative tasks for the unit and supervising attorneys, including reviewing agreements and assisting with harassment cases and trials.
• Advising on legal matters related to enforcement and administration of relevant laws and regulations.
• Collaborating with the AHU team to identify potential litigation targets.

Preferred Skills

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• Experience litigating housing maintenance and tenant harassment cases.
• At least three years of legal experience after bar admission.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of HPD’s internal databases such as LMS and HPDINFO.

Qualifications

1. Admission to the NY State Bar; and either:

• One year of legal experience after bar admission; or
• Six months of service as an Agency Attorney Intern.

Incumbents must remain members of the NY State Bar in good standing. Additional experience requirements apply for higher assignment levels.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment based on legally protected characteristics.