Housing Supervising Attorney, Elder Law (Bronx)

About the role

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice is seeking an experienced and talented lawyer with a deep commitment to public interest practice and policy to join a dedicated Housing team as the Supervising Attorney of the Elder Law Unit-Bronx.

Responsibilities

• Elder Law Supervision Duties:
  • Supervise, mentor, and train staff attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers/interns
  • Monitor and maintain a high standard of representation and client service
  • Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies with focus on seniors with physical and/or mental health disabilities, and/or cognitive decline
  • Foster and encourage positive environment for collaboration and communication between attorneys and non attorney team members
  • Reinforce and maintain staff accountability
  • Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
  • Collaborate and work closely with the Borough AIC, Director of Elder Law, Housing Coordinators and the grants management team on all aspects of citywide elder law housing practice
  • Identify needs and resources for the Bronx Neighborhood Office and participate in management team responsibilities to meet those needs
  • Coordinate intake and conduct off-site intake as needed, including based on client needs such as being homebound
  • Collaborate and work closely with community-based organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts
  • Represent the Civil Practice and Legal Aid Society in the community
  • Engage in policy advocacy including drafting and presenting testimony before City Council
  • Conduct community education, training, and outreach and promote the work of the office, the Elder Law Unit Practice, and the Civil Practice
  • Respond to client, community and staff concerns
  • Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Knowledge of topical areas including Housing and Benefits Law, with a specific focus as it relates to seniors
  • Excellent litigation skills and experience litigating in various forums
  • Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
  • Ability to work in a collaborate team model
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
  • Commitment to exploring alternative approaches for legal practice
  • Demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation
• Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
  • Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
  • Ability to train and mentor staff of various levels of experience and foster an inclusive work environment
  • Ability to develop and support positive and productive working relationships between attorneys and the social workers and paralegal case handlers
  • Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
  • Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices
• Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
  • Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
  • Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Qualifications

• Required qualifications: Admission to the New York State Bar and a willingness to apply for admission to the federal courts (S.D.N.Y., E.D.N.Y., Second Circuit) as it may become necessary
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in public interest law and civil legal services
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including but not limited to seniors

Preferred qualifications

• Minimum of three years of legal practice preferred
• Minimum of one year of supervisory and management experience preferred or relevant experience such as leadership positions in a membership organization
• Grant-writing and fundraising experience preferred
• Pro bono, government, public service, and academic experience will be considered, but is not required
• Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of topical areas including Housing and Benefits Law, with a specific focus as it relates to seniors
• Excellent litigation skills and experience litigating in various forums
• Excellent oral and written advocacy skills
• Ability to work in a collaborate team model
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Commitment to exploring alternative approaches for legal practice
• Demonstrated commitment to addressing fundamental issues of poverty and justice within a comprehensive civil legal services model of representation
• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to train and mentor staff of various levels of experience and foster an inclusive work environment
• Ability to develop and support positive and productive working relationships between attorneys and the social workers and paralegal case handlers
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices

Salary and Benefits

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles. Salary Range: $99,444- $163,507

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness: The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

How to Apply

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

To view the full job description and apply, visit the Legal Aid Society's career portal.