Supervising Attorney, Manhattan Team

NYLAG; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision

401k

Long-term disability

Commuter benefits

FSAs

Job summary

NYLAG seeks an experienced housing attorney to join the Tenants’ Rights Unit in Manhattan as a Supervising Attorney. You will join a leadership team to guide litigation and advocacy, coach staff, and identify systemic housing issues to advocate for change in and out of court.

The role emphasizes a race equity lens in tenant advocacy, with responsibilities spanning supervision, outreach, and policy work in New York City. This is a full‑time managerial position located in NYC.

Qualifications

• Four years of relevant legal experience, with at least three years representing tenants in housing matters (NYC Housing Court preferred).
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, housing rights, and racial justice.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, interns, or pro bono volunteers is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns; conduct regular supervision meetings; review case lists and intakes; develop legal strategies and deadlines; oversee court appearances and intake.
• Provide strategic leadership as part of TRU Management.
• Collaborate with TRU-wide supervisory team to address programmatic issues and policies; oversee intake protocols.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Communication skills

Staff supervision

Education

New York Bar admission

Job description

About NYLAG:

Founded in 1990, NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combatting 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. NYLAG’s staff of over 400 impacted the lives of nearly 129,000 people last year.

Job description

NYLAG seeks an experienced housing attorney to join the Tenants’ Rights Unit’s (TRU) supervisory team as one of six supervisors who manage TRU’s Manhattan Team. The Supervising Attorney be a part of the larger unit leadership team, of about 20 experienced supervisors, who collaborate 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 because of the long‑lasting disparate impacts of systemic racism, rising inflation coupled with economic inequality, threats to liberty and safety from immigration enforcement, 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervising a team of attorneys, paralegals, and interns within TRU. Supervision will include: holding regular one‑on‑one supervision meetings with staff; reviewing case lists and intakes with staff, developing legal strategies, setting case priorities and deadlines, reviewing casework in advance of filing, providing support for litigation matters; supervising court appearances; supervising intake; training and professional development of staff.
• Providing strategic leadership and direction as a part of TRU Management.
• Working alongside the TRU‑wide supervisory team to identify and respond to programmatic issues, develop and oversee intake protocols and policies, and other responsibilities as needed to ensure we are able to fulfill our Unit’s mission and provide an internal workplace in which our staff feel supported and are able to thrive;
• Carrying a small caseload at your discretion.
• Serving as an internal resource to other NYLAG Units on issues related to housing in New York City.
• Assisting with grant management as needed to ensure that program goals and data reporting requirements are met.
• Conducting outreach to impacted communities and community‑based organizations.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with community‑based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts.
• Attending meetings with stakeholders, taskforces, courts, partners, funders; and others as needed to further the work of TRU and the needs of the communities we serve, including meetings regarding the implementation of the Right to Counsel/Universal Access and tenants’ rights issues in Manhattan and elsewhere in New York City.
• Conducting internal and external trainings, know-your‑rights workshops, and presentations to staff and community members.
• Participating in internal and external law and policy committees.
• Identifying, supporting, and assisting in advocacy efforts aligned with community needs, including through policy advocacy, testimony, impact litigation, and appeals practices.

Qualifications

• At least four years of relevant legal experience is required, and at three of those years of experience should consist of representing tenants in housing matters, ideally in New York City Housing Court. Candidates with four years of relevant experience may also apply and be considered for the role of Associate Supervising Attorney. Admission to the New York Bar is required.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, housing rights, and racial justice.
• Demonstrated ability to promote and ensure effectiveteam building, collaboration, transparent communication, and conflict‑resolution.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, interns, and /or pro bono volunteers is preferred.

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 $115,532 and $130,466 based on years of legal experience.

Benefits

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

Work arrangement

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.