Paralegal Advocate

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer. 

We seek an experienced candidate who is excited to work in a fast-paced environment and use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice. The Paralegal advocate will work in the Right to Counsel Unit to support attorneys in their eviction defense. New York City’s Right to Counsel law, passed in 2017, is the first law in the nation to provide income-eligible tenants who are sued for eviction in housing court with the right to an attorney to defend their case. Our housing practice helps to realize this mandate by representing low-income tenants to defend their homes and enforce their rights as tenants. Our attorneys defendant tenants in different settings, including eviction proceedings in housing court, administrative hearings, bringing affirmative litigation in state and federal court, and handling appeals.

The paralegal advocate will work closely with our right to counsel attorneys, with a particular focus on supporting them in trial work and discovery. Additionally, the paralegal advocate may advocate for clients before government agencies, focusing on remaining family member grievances with NYCHA. 

Responsibilities Include:

• Becoming knowledgeable in “remaining family member” grievances with NYCHA, trial preparation, and discovery production and preparation. This may include legal research and drafting supporting documents for legal cases [for example, client affidavits and charts];

• Interviewing clients in the above areas of law. This may include supporting attorneys in interviewing clients to prepare for trial or in support of discovery;

• Representing and advocating for clients before social or governmental agencies, with a focus on remaining family member grievances with NYCHA; May also be responsible for supporting public benefits and government benefits advocacy.

• Preparing papers from standard forms, in particular to support attorneys with their trial preparation and discovery proposals. This may including preparing subpoenas for attorneys to review;

• Attending community group meetings and community outreach;

• Writing reports, proposals and other documents. This may include proposals and summaries of transcripts or any other document related to the assistance of trial preparation or discovery;

• Preparing letters and requesting documents to prepare clients’ cases;

• Receiving and maintaining up-to-date resource material.

Qualifications: 

• A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities, including communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities, to advance equity;

• Experience working for a legal services or legal aid organization or with low-income people preferred;

• Excellent organizational skills including the ability to prioritize multiple tasks within a set amount of time;

• Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, internet research, and eagerness to learn new and evolving technologies;

• Familiarity with Housing Court and NYCHA preferred;

• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills;

• An ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds;

• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging issues;

• Strong cultural or personal ties to the communities we serve preferred; and

• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish, a Chinese dialect or other languages prevalent in the communities we serve is helpful, but not requir

How to Apply:

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references utilizing the Greenhouse Portal. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls please.  MLS offers an excellent benefits package and competitive public interest salary, including health, dental, and vision insurance plans; contributions to a 403(b) plan; and generous leave time. Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is a non-managerial position. Staff members who are not managers are members of the LSSA/NOLSW UAW Local 2320 Union. 

All employees are strongly encouraged to continue to receive and maintain up-to-date COVID vaccinations unless they are unable to for medical or religious reasons.

Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 40, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are strongly encouraged to apply.