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National Legal Aid & Defender Association · 1 month ago

Staff Attorney - Housing

Olean, NY

Contract

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$75K/yr - $111K/yr

National Legal Aid & Defender Association is a not-for-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income clients in Western New York. The Staff Attorney in the Housing Unit will represent clients in mortgage and tax foreclosure matters, ensuring access to justice for vulnerable populations.

LegalNon Profit

Senior Management

Responsibilities

Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients served by our Eviction Prevention Unit

Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, particularly: landlord-tenant, subsidized housing, and government benefits

Provide legal services to low income clients and client groups regarding these matters including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy

Interact respectfully with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, with an awareness of the importance of cultural competence and humility

Collaborate with other LawNY® advocates, human services providers, non-profit organizations and community groups as well as the courts, administrative tribunals and the private bar to address legal problems within our community, including providing community legal education

Contribute to a safe and healthy work environment for fellow employees

Cooperate in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing and compliance review

Maintain a high level of professional competence through attendance of training sessions, seminars and conferences and individual efforts to keep abreast of current developments in the area of poverty law and the application of an equity lens to client service

Qualification

Litigation experienceAdvocacy experiencePoverty law knowledgeCultural competenceTrauma-informed servicesFluency in another languageEmotional maturityInterpersonal skills

Required

The candidate must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help people with low-income overcome crisis situations

A strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting communities with low-income intersect with social and economic justice

Every Staff Attorney is expected to actively engage in learning and becoming increasingly skilled in practice that supports this vision

Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients served by our Eviction Prevention Unit

Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, particularly: landlord-tenant, subsidized housing, and government benefits

Provide legal services to low income clients and client groups regarding these matters including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy

Interact respectfully with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, with an awareness of the importance of cultural competence and humility

Contribute to a safe and healthy work environment for fellow employees

Cooperate in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing and compliance review

Preferred

Litigation and advocacy experience in state and/or federal court and/or administrative forums within at least one related area of poverty law, especially landlord-tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, fair housing, and/or government benefits

Experience incorporating an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into legal practice

An understanding of the concepts of structural and institutional racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities

Strong interpersonal skills, including a commitment to providing trauma-informed services

Lived experience with our client communities

True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients

Benefits

94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in-network deductible

100% Employer paid Dental Insurance

100% Employer paid Life Insurance

100% Employer paid Enhanced Short-term Disability

100% Employer paid Long-term Disability

Vision Insurance

20 Paid Vacation days per year

12 Sick days per year

5 Personal days per year

13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year

35-Hour Work Week

Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week. After 6 months, this increases to 5 days per week with Manager approval, as workload permits)