Staff Attorney, Preserving Affordable Housing Program-Brooklyn

Job Description

Job Description

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy.   Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Build Up Justice NYC seeks Staff Attorney for its Brooklyn-based Preserving Affordable Housing program with 1+ years’ landlord litigation experience to include non-payment, holdover, HP, 7A, and harassment proceedings in Housing Court as well as Supreme Court.  The work will include frequent motion practice, discovery, depositions, communication with clients, negotiations with opposing counsel and advocacy with outside agencies on behalf of clients.

To be successful in this role, you must have Admission to the bar of the State of New York. You should have a passion for social justice and helping and representing clients in low-income tenant groups, community organizations, and coalitions. As a valued team member, you will have a client-based focus and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The most important competencies for the role are:

• Experience working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income tenant groups, community organizations and/or coalitions;
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment;
• An understanding of the City’s housing market and/or experience in housing law practice;
• Ability to work independently with strong motivation, to manage a high caseload, to meet deadlines, and to be flexible;
• Have excellent legal writing, litigation and advocacy skills;
• Computer proficiency sufficient to independently review and generate materials relevant to the position;
• Maintain up-to-date client information in Brooklyn A’s case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking,
• Collaborate as needed with program managers and development team to write narrative reports for grant and contracts;
• Attend meetings, and perform administrative tasks related to the work, such as timekeeping and case notes;
• Demonstrated ability to publish articles effectively advocating on behalf of clients and Build Up Justice NYC;
• Language proficiency relevant to our clients, especially Spanish; and
• Willingness, desire, and ability to attend evening meetings.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This is a hybrid in-office/remote position based in Brooklyn, NY.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary $79,400 - $96,200 dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave. 

Build Up Justice NYC is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting a talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Build Up Justice NYC, diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff.

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.