Intro/Program Description: The Goddard Riverside Law Project provides free legal services and organizing support to low-income individuals, families, and groups of tenants in the west side of Manhattan. Our mission is to empower tenants and preserve affordable housing through advocacy, legal representation, relationship building, and grassroots education. We aim to protect tenants’ rights and hold bad actors accountable while working towards establishing pro-tenant laws and sound housing policy through city and statewide coalition work. To these ends, we integrate tenant voices and collaborate with the community, particularly SRO tenants and marginalized populations.

Schedule: Monday through Friday 10:00 a- 6:00 p

Salary: Law Graduate- $62,000; Passed NYS Bar- $71,000 - $84,000*. *Newly hired attorney's salaries will be determined according to years of credited employment experience.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center follow the CDC and NYS recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and are now requiring all new hires to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a qualified exemption.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties
Represent low-income individuals and tenant groups in housing-related litigation – in particular non-payment, holdover and repairs-related cases – in the state court system, including Housing Court and appellate courts;
Advocate for clients with various administrative agencies for matters including rent overcharge, harassment, public assistance, rent arrears grants, and Section 8 benefits;
Handle full case load from intake interview through negotiation/litigation, including motion practice and trial, to resolution;
Advise individual tenants, tenant groups, and tenant organizations on legal rights and strategies; conduct know-your-rights trainings, housing clinics and workshops;
Conduct legal research, write legal memoranda;
Assist in identifying and developing impact litigation;
Work with tenant organizers to do outreach and represent tenant associations in various courts and administrative agencies;
Participate in developing organizing and legal strategies in furtherance of the Project’s efforts to protect and preserve permanent affordable housing.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements
Admitted, or pending admission, to the New York State Bar;
Demonstrated commitment to social justice work;
Experience representing or working with tenants, or low-income individuals and households;
Familiarity with New York State and City housing-related issues and laws;
Strong research and writing skills;
Fluency in Spanish is preferred.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should be comfortable operating Microsoft Office programs, especially Outlook, Word and Excel.

Physical Requirements:
Frequent travel between office and court, especially Manhattan Housing Court.

Work Environment:
Office and court settings;
Staff attorneys may need to visit clients in their homes and conduct tenant meetings in buildings where the tenants reside.

How to Apply:
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample.
Applications are due by December 1, 2022 but all applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

No telephone calls, please.

This position is classified as a union position under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Goddard Riverside and the United Service Workers Union Local 2320 Collective Bargaining Unit. The union represents employees in the bargaining unit (i.e. Goddard employees in Local 2320 union positions). The Collective Bargaining Agreement is a written contract that defines the agreed-upon terms and conditions of employment, including wage increases, paid time off and other benefits, and the grievance process. All employees in Local 2320 union positions at Goddard Riverside are subject to and covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Membership in the union includes the collection of union dues on a monthly basis, to be deducted from the member’s Goddard paycheck at a rate to be determined by the union.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

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