Manhattan Legal Services seeks a staff attorney to work in our Housing Unit with a focus on serving the Chinatown Community in Manhattan.
About the Organization:

This office is part of Legal Services NYC, the largest provider of free civil legal services for low-income people in the country. The Manhattan office is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services in the areas of housing, family law, public benefits, employment, education, consumer, immigration, and disability rights, with special units serving particularly vulnerable populations including domestic violence victims, LGBTQ community members, and people living with HIV. We are committed to working in partnership with community-based organizations in the communities we serve in order to address the causes of poverty.

The Housing Unit represents clients in many different forums, including defending tenants in eviction proceedings in Housing Court and Supreme Court, representing tenants at administrative hearings, bringing affirmative litigation, and handling appeals at all levels. The attorney will join the team representing tenants in eviction and other proceedings, as part of our work to implement New York City's groundbreaking new Right to Counsel law. In addition, this attorney will be assisting and representing tenants residing in Chinatown by conducting onsite intake in Chinatown, providing legal trainings to Chinatown residents, and working with community-based organizations in Chinatown.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include conducting in-person intakes, providing legal advice and counseling; case investigation; drafting legal documents; direct representation of clients in Housing and Supreme Court and administrative proceedings; filing affirmative litigation and appeals; conducting legal clinics, and working closely with community-based organizations.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a J.D. from an accredited law school, have passed the New York bar examination or the Uniform Bar Examination, or be eligible to waive into the New York bar. Applicants should possess excellent advocacy, litigation, analytic, writing, and leadership skills. All levels of experience are welcome and encouraged to apply. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, conduct community outreach in low-income neighborhoods and demonstrate a commitment to social justice and working in low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity. Cantonese language proficiency is strongly preferred and Chinese language proficiency is required. Salary is determined by a collective bargaining agreement based on the year of graduation.

Vaccination Mandate:

Please note, to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients, LSNYC requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a medical or religious exemption is approved.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references by email to  jobpostingmls@mls.ls-nyc.org Please put “Housing Attorney - Chinatown” in the subject line.

Manhattan Legal Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender persons, and persons over 40 are welcome and are encouraged to apply.

Bar Associations and other organizations: Manhattan Legal Services seeks and welcomes your recommendations for candidates who meet the foregoing qualifications and, in addition, requests that you or your organization encourage such candidates to apply.

SALARY RANGE: $73,593-$133,304

 

See original post here.