Staff Attorney - Housing

Legal Assistance of Western New York Inc; City of Olean (NY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 111,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Family/health benefits

Paid time off

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) seeks a full-time Staff Attorney for its Olean Housing Unit. The attorney will represent eligible clients in mortgage and tax foreclosure matters, primarily for low-income residents, helping them avoid loss of their homes.

The role emphasizes compassionate, trauma-informed service and social justice alignment. Qualifications include NY admission in good standing and a demonstrated commitment to low-income communities.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State.
• Demonstrated commitment of service to people with low-income.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients served by our Eviction Prevention Unit.
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, particularly landlord-tenant, subsidized housing, and government benefits.
• Provide legal services to low income clients and client groups regarding these matters including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy.
• Interact respectfully with clients from diverse backgrounds and promote cultural competence.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Community service commitment

Client advocacy

Education

Admitted to practice in New York State

Job description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Olean office of LawNY® seeks to fill an immediate opening for a full time Staff Attorney in its Housing Unit. The Staff Attorney will provide direct legal representation, primarily in mortgage and tax foreclosure matters to Cattaraugus County residents with low income at risk of losing their homes. The candidate must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help people with low-income overcome crisis situations.

Staff Attorneys at LawNY® provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients and the ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting communities with low-income intersect with social and economic justice.

QUALIFICATIONS

These are the basic requirements for the position.

• Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State.
• Demonstrated commitment of service to people with low-income.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The beginning salary for a Staff Attorney at LawNY with no experience is $75,000 and the salary for a Staff Attorney with thirty years of experience is $111,100. Salary will be based on experience. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program(PSLF).

Benefits

• 94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in-network deductible
• 100% Employer paid Dental Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Enhanced Short-term Disability
• 100% Employer paid Long-term Disability
• Vision Insurance
• 20 Paid Vacation days per year
• 12 Sick days per year
• 5 Personal days per year
• 13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year
• 35-Hour Work Week
• Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week. After 6 months, this increases to 5 days per week with Manager approval, as workload permits)

RESPONSIBILITIES

These are the most significant responsibilities and primary functions of the position.

• Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients served by our Eviction Prevention Unit.
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, particularly: landlord-tenant, subsidized housing, and government benefits.

• Provide legal services to low income clients and client groups regarding these matters including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy.
• Interact respectfully with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, with an awareness of the importance of cultural competence and humility.
• Collaborate with other LawNY® advocates, human services providers, non-profit organizations and community groups as well as the courts, administrative tribunals and the private bar to address legal problems within our community, including providing community legal education.
• Contribute to a safe and healthy work environment for fellow employees.
• Cooperate in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing and compliance review.
• Maintain a high level of professional competence through attendance of training sessions, seminars and conferences and individual efforts to keep abreast of current developments in the area of poverty law and the application of an equity lens to client service.

ADDITIONAL TRAITS AND SKILLS

These are the traits, attributes, attitudes, and skills that speak to the candidate’s ability to succeed in the position. While no one candidate will possess all of the qualities listed, the ideal candidate will have many of these qualities.

• Litigation and advocacy experience in state and/or federal court and/or administrative forums within at least one related area of poverty law, especially landlord-tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, fair housing, and/or government benefits.
• Experience working with individuals and communities facing barriers to accessing resources, opportunities, services or justice.
• Applies understanding of bias and systemic inequities related to socio-economic status, race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetic information, national origin, familial status, and language, to improve client access, engagement and outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a commitment to trauma-informed and culturally responsive services.
• True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm that provides free civil legal services to clients with low-income in a 14 county area of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. LawNY® has seven fully staffed field offices in Bath, Elmira, Geneva, Ithaca, Jamestown, Olean and Rochester, satellite offices in Lakeville and Lyons, and a business office in Rochester.

LawNY® has been providing high quality legal representation for 54 years, and today has over 180 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and a legal support team who work closely across areas of specialization to bring a holistic approach to addressing legal issues affecting our clients and community.

Questions? Contact Michelle Grillone at [e-mail]

LawNY is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. If you meet the basic qualifications of the role, we encourage you to apply!

This position is considered Exempt pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.