Supervising Housing Attorney

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the provision of housing-related legal services to low-income tenants and tenant associations in neighborhoods facing strong displacement pressure.
• Provide exceptional supervision and support to a team of 5-7 housing attorneys and advocates.
• Collaborate with MRNY organizers to build, support, and represent tenant associations.
• Work closely with MRNY members and organizers to support MRNY members and organizing campaigns through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, research, media work, and action support that strengthen MRNY’s tenant organizing.
• Provide technical legal support for MRNY’s robust housing-related policy and organizing campaigns, including drafting legislation; training other staff and members on the legal aspects of campaigns; writing reports; lobbying visits in support of policy campaigns; drafting materials (for the press, funders, the membership, elected officials, and other advocates) on our key policy campaigns and victories; responding to media inquiries; and representing MRNY at meetings with elected officials and coalition partners.
• Coordinate community outreach, including tenant association meetings, community education efforts, including through the creation of written materials, popular education workshops, and legal clinics.
• Maintain a small docket of housing cases, including but not limited to complex holdovers, non-payment proceedings, HP actions, Article 78 proceedings, and administrative hearings.
• Participate in team, department meetings; collaborate with external partners; and assist with tracking and highlighting cases as necessary for development and grant reporting.
• Continuous learning regarding movement lawyering (theory and application) as well as other critical concepts that underscore our organizational approach to building power, such as racialized capitalism.
• Coordinate with the Legal Grants team and assist with grant reporting for the Housing and Benefits legal team.
• Participate in the leadership of the Legal Department to advance organizational goals and to develop and maintain strong funding relationships to sustain our housing and benefits work.

Job Requirements

• Eligible to work in the U.S.
• Admission to practice law in New York State
• Spanish language fluency
• At least 4 years of housing litigation experience
• Commitment to social justice, community building, and housing as a human right
• Ability to supervise, mentor and develop staff
• Interpersonal and organizational skills of the highest caliber
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment
• Experience with populations that make up major portions of Make the Road’s membership – such as documented and undocumented immigrants, individuals facing domestic violence, members of TGNCIQ communities, those who have experienced the criminal legal system, and youth
• Interest in supporting community organizing, campaigns, and policy and advocacy initiatives

Job Competencies

• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• Be highly professional and team oriented with a passion for excellence and eagerness to help the department meet our goals
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment
• Have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, Microsoft Office suite, and using a database (ideally Salesforce)
• Flexible work schedule, some evenings or weekends required
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• High level of accountability and initiative; eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole

MRNY Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is from $104,500 to $112,500. MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days.