Supervising Attorney: Housing Justice

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work opportunities

Vacation and leave package

Job summary

TakeRoot Justice in New York City seeks a Supervising Attorney for the Housing Justice Team. You will supervise attorneys, paralegals, volunteers, and interns, guiding case strategy and coordinating court appearances.

The ideal candidate has a JD from an accredited school and NY State Bar admission, with at least five years in housing law, strong writing, research, and advocacy skills, and a commitment to racial and economic justice.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and NY Bar admission.
• At least five years of experience in housing law and/or direct legal services.
• Commitment to racial and economic justice and housing justice.
• Strong writing, research, analytical and communication skills.
• Experience supervising staff and engaging with community organizers.

Responsibilities

• Supervise attorneys, paralegals, volunteers, and interns on the Housing Justice Team.
• Provide training, mentorship, and professional development for staff.
• Coordinate with partners and manage litigation and non-litigation work.
• Engage in legislative/regulatory advocacy and community outreach.
• Monitor performance to ensure contract and grant compliance and client outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Housing law

Writing

Research

Advocacy

Communication

Education

JD (law degree)

NY Bar admission

Job description

TakeRoot Justice seeks applicants for the position of Supervising Attorney on our Housing Justice team.

About the 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.

We are committed to our mission of dismantling racial, economic, and social oppression. 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 include:

• 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, keeping the team abreast of developments in the fields of tenant law and the housing movement, and collecting and developing resource materials
• Supporting and participating in TakeRoot's legal assistance to community groups and their members, including affirmative litigation behalf of tenant associations (g. HP actions, rent strikes and 7-A proceedings), and individual eviction defense
• Training and mentoring staff to ensure professional development and competency in the work being performed
• Monitoring the performance of work within the practice area to ensure compliance with contract and grant requirements and best outcomes for clients and partner groups.
• Participating in TakeRoot's management team together with other practice-area managers and the Executive Director
• 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
• Developing and maintaining, together with staff, relationships with community-based partners throughout New York City

Qualifications

• JD. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar (or eligibility for reciprocal admission)
• At least five 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
• Commitment to the supervisor's own growth and learning
• Demonstrated ability to critically examine how power and privilege shape our legal work, our clients' experiences, and our relationships with one another, and experience developing and applying strategies to address those dynamics

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Experience in a supervisory, management or other leadership role
• Substantial experience litigating in affirmative and defensive landlord-tenant matters in the New York City and State courts
• 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

Expected salary range: $90,990 to $104,050 depending on experience and qualifications.

TakeRoot provides comprehensive benefits, remote work opportunities, and a generous vacation & leave package.

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 all ages and 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.