Staff Attorney - Housing

LawNY®’s Olean office has an immediate opening for a full-time Staff Attorney in its Housing Unit. The attorney will provide direct legal representation—primarily in mortgage and tax foreclosure matters—to low-income Cattaraugus County residents at risk of losing their homes. Candidates must demonstrate the emotional maturity and patience required to help clients navigate crisis situations.

About the Organization

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY®) is a not-for-profit law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income clients across a 14-county region of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier. With seven fully staffed field offices, two satellite locations, and over 180 employees, LawNY® delivers holistic legal representation through cross-specialty collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a full-time caseload representing eligible clients in the Eviction Prevention Unit.
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, including landlord-tenant, subsidized housing, and government benefits.
• Provide legal services—advice, negotiation, litigation, and administrative advocacy—to low-income clients and client groups.
• Interact respectfully with clients from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing cultural competence and humility.
• Collaborate with LawNY® advocates, human services providers, nonprofits, community groups, courts, tribunals, and the private bar to address community legal issues, including delivering community legal education.
• Contribute to a safe and healthy work environment.
• Fulfill grant reporting, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing, and compliance review requirements.
• Maintain professional competence through training, seminars, conferences, and self-directed learning on poverty law and equity-focused client service.

Requirements

• Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving people with low income.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Skills

• Litigation and advocacy experience in state/federal court or administrative forums in poverty law areas such as landlord-tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, fair housing, or government benefits.
• Experience working with individuals and communities facing barriers to resources, opportunities, services, or justice.
• Understanding of bias and systemic inequities related to socio-economic status, race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, genetic information, national origin, familial status, and language, applied to improve client access and outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a commitment to trauma-informed and culturally responsive services.
• Fluency in a non-English language spoken by LawNY® clients (preferred).

Pay

Starting salary ranges from $75,000 (no experience) to $111,100 (thirty years of experience), based on experience. LawNY® is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

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.

Schedule

Hybrid work schedule: new staff may 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.