Interim Supervising Attorney: Housing Rights

TakeRoot Justice; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 91,000 - 104,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Hybrid workplace with remote work

Job summary

TakeRoot Justice seeks applicants for the position of Interim Supervising Attorney on our Housing Justice team. This is a temporary position, to start in the second half of October or as soon as possible after, through February 2027.

We are a diverse team of 15 attorneys and advocates working with community organizers, tenant associations, and coalitions across New York City to help tenants fight harassment, obtain repairs, and resist gentrification and displacement.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and admission to NYS Bar (or eligibility for reciprocal admission).
• At least three years of relevant experience in housing law and/or provision of direct legal services.
• Commitment to economic and racial justice and housing justice movement in NYC.
• Experience working with diverse communities across lines of difference.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage the Housing Justice Team with the Housing Director and Supervising Paralegal/Advocacy Coordinator.
• Provide supervision to attorneys, paralegals, volunteers and interns; assist during court appearances and review written work.
• Provide training to community groups on tenants’ rights issues.
• Participate in legislative and regulatory advocacy with partner organizations.
• Coordinate and participate in legal clinics and workshops.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Leadership

Writing

Research

Communication skills

Housing law

Diversity engagement

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

TakeRoot Justice seeks applicants for the position of Interim Supervising Attorney on our Housing Justice team. This is a temporary position, to start in the second half of October or as soon as possible after, through February 2027.

About TakeRoot Justice’s Housing Justice Team

We are a diverse team of 15 attorneys and advocates working with community organizers, tenant associations, and coalitions across New York City to help tenants fight harassment, obtain repairs, and resist the pressures of gentrification and displacement.

Our legal strategies typically center affirmative litigation on behalf of tenant associations (e.g. rent strikes, 7-A and HP proceedings, intervention in bankruptcy and foreclosure cases, and rent overcharge claims). We also defend tenants against eviction and from attacks on their right to organize.

Our non-litigation work includes developing campaign strategies in collaboration with community organizers, training organizers and community leaders on tenants’ rights issues, drafting legislation and policy proposals, lobbying elected officials, participating in tenant meetings, and conducting legal clinics.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Supervising Attorney will work with the Housing Director and the Supervising Paralegal/Advocacy Coordinator to supervise and manage the Housing Justice Team.

Primary Responsibilities

• Supervision of attorneys, paralegals, volunteers, and interns on the Housing Justice Team, including regular and as-needed one-to-one check-ins and consults, in-person support during court appearances, review of written work
• Supporting TakeRoot’s legal assistance to community groups and their members, including affirmative litigation behalf of tenant associations (
• Providing training to community groups and their members on tenants’ rights issues
• Participating in legislative and/or regulatory advocacy with partner organizations
• Coordination of and participation in legal clinics and workshops

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar (or eligibility for reciprocal admission)
• At least three years of relevant experience in housing law and/or provision of direct legal services.
• Eagerness to work with a diverse client base on individual and group litigation
• Demonstrated commitment to economic and racial justice and the housing justice movement in New York City
• Professional and/or personal experience working with diverse communities and across lines of difference
• Commitment to working in partnership with community organizers and developing creative lawyering strategies to support tenant organizing
• Excellent writing, research, analytical and communication skills

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Substantial experience litigating in affirmative and defensive landlord-tenant matters in the New York City and State courts
• Experience in a supervisory, management or other leadership role
• Experience with legislative and/or regulatory advocacy
• Experience with community organizing or working in support of organizing campaigns
• Professional competency in a second language that is used by our client communities, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Arabic, or Bangla
• Experience working in a unionized workplace

This is a W-2 position with an expected annualized salary range of $90,990 to $104,050, pro-rated for the number of months worked, depending on experience and qualifications. TakeRoot is a hybrid workplace with remote work opportunities.

Health insurance will be available for this position, but the employee will be responsible for the full premium costs.

TakeRoot Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law.

TakeRoot encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including, but not limited to, women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTGNCNBQI+ people, people from low-income backgrounds, people with personal experience with the criminal justice system. We strongly encourage applications from people who have lived experience in the communities we serve. TakeRoot believes that diversity and inclusion are critical to our success, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.