Staff Attorney, Tenant Advocacy

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Practice Group/Team: Tenant Advocacy

Organization Information

Empire Justice Center, a diverse and highly respected statewide legal services organization, seeks a Staff Attorney for our Tenant Advocacy practice group. This is an opportunity to join and grow in one of the most influential organizations serving marginalized low-income individuals and families in New York State.

Empire Justice Center attracts and employs a diverse team of dedicated, determined, and passionate advocates who significantly impact the lives of low-income New Yorkers. We succeed through direct legal representation, high-impact litigation, and legislative and administrative advocacy. As an organization, we provide top-notch training and technical assistance to other advocates to ensure fairness and justice for New Yorkers. We thrive on our commitment to supporting justice for populations that have historically experienced severe oppression. These populations include racially diverse individuals and families experiencing poverty, housing insecurity, immigration issues, and domestic violence. Additionally, the organization advocates for people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and school-age children facing discrimination and violations of their civil rights in schools.

Our offices in Rochester, Albany, Westchester County, and Long Island offer staff an exciting, dynamic, inclusive working environment with a solid commitment to work/life balance, teamwork, diversity, wellness, and personal/professional development.

Position Summary

Empire Justice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a Staff Attorney for our Tenant Advocacy practice group. This position provides legal representation to tenants in eviction proceedings on Long Island, primarily in Suffolk County. The role collaborates with paralegals and the Tenant Advocacy Team to expedite client intake and support case development. The position also works with advocates and attorneys from partner practice groups and organizations to identify additional resources and help preserve clients’ housing.

Salary

The referenced pay range/scale represents the estimated minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job's compensation range and determined by considering factors, including but not limited to education, experience, qualifications, individual expertise, market data, and internal equity considerations.

Staff Attorney, 1-5 years of experience, $60,580 to $68,580  (Downstate NY – includes a $6,000 geographic differential)

Benefits

• We are an organization that supports and promotes a healthy work-life balance. Empire Justice Center offers a generous benefit package, including:
• 35-hour full-time work week.
• Comprehensive health insurance plan.
• 403(b) eligibility - immediately eligible to begin contributing from your paycheck.
• Immediate vesting upon hire - ALL contributions (both employee and employer).
• 1% employer match is eligible after 12 months of employment.
• 3% non-elective annual contribution made by employer after 12 months of employment.
• Generous vacation, sick, personal, and holiday time
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Vacation: 10.5 hours/month; Sick: 7 hours/month; Personal: 35 hours/year
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program for qualifying employees.
• Bilingual salary enhancement for qualifying employees.
• Generous Bereavement Leave.
• Employee Wellness Activities.
• Voluntary Supplemental Disability.
• Dental Insurance (employee paid).
• Vision Insurance (employee paid).
• $150K Group Term Life Insurance.
• NYS Short-Term Disability.
• FSA Eligibility.

Empire Justice Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and strongly desires a diverse and inclusive workforce. Empire Justice Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. It prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, specifically - race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, genetics, neurodiversity, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

•  Provide legal representation to tenants in eviction proceedings in housing courts on Long Island, primarily in Suffolk county
• Access to reliable transportation capable of traveling to housing courts on Long Island 
• Experienced and skilled in providing legal advice in a language that is accessible to the client or eager to develop this skill. 
• Work closely with a paralegal and the Tenant Advocacy Team to expedite client intake and case development.
•  Ability to work in a fast paced environment to assist clients who often need rapid responses  
• Collaborate actively with the advocates and attorneys from partnering organizations to find other resources to preserve clients' housing. 
• Work closely with the Tenant Advocacy team to identify and assist with related legal needs that these clients may have, including immigration issues, services for crime victims, access to public benefits, and civil rights in housing and language access.  
• Impact litigation support, as needed. 
• Provide advice and representation to low-income tenants 
• Maintain a docket of housing cases, including but not limited to holdover and nonpayment summary proceedings for eviction.
• Assist in community education efforts, including creation of written materials and presentations. 

 Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) 

• Written Communication Skills
• Oral Communication Skills
• Ability to Work on a Team
• Case Management
• Client Experience
• Problem Management
• Organizational Skills
• Document Drafting
• Microsoft Office
• Legal Advocacy
• Legal Research
• Litigation Experience
• Ability to travel to court appearances and client meetings

TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. If interested, please visit our “Work With Us” employment page at www.empirejustice.org. Please submit a complete application, including a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and contact information for three professional references (one supervisor is required). Please refrain from making phone calls or sending hard copies. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contact Mercedece Love, Human Resources and Compliance Manager, at [email protected]. Empire Justice Center is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Empire Justice Center ensures that persons with disabilities and/or communication barriers have reasonable accommodations.

Salary Description $60,580 to $68,580