Supervising Attorney - Manhattan Legal Services - Housing Unit

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. 

MANHATTAN LEGAL SERVICES, a part of Legal Services NYC, is seeking a dynamic and committed attorney to serve as a Supervising Attorney in our General Housing Unit.

Manhattan Legal Services is part of Legal Services NYC (LSNYC), the largest provider of free civil legal services for low-income people in the country. The Manhattan office is dedicated to providing high-quality legal services in the areas of housing, family law, public benefits, employment, immigration, consumer, education, and disability rights, and LGBTQ/HIV advocacy. We work in partnership with community-based organizations in the communities we serve to address the causes of homelessness, hunger and family disintegration. This is an exciting opportunity for skilled and motivated leaders and attorneys.

We seek candidates who are excited to work in a fast-paced environment and use creative strategies in the pursuit of justice. The supervisor will work with the Housing Unit Director and co-supervisors to shape the direction of the Housing Unit, develop and strengthen relationships with partner community-based organizations, handle administrative and grant responsibilities and identify systemic housing-related trends for strategic litigation. The responsibilities will also include handling and supervising the representation of tenants in housing court, administrative proceedings, affirmative litigation and appeals; helping to develop and file affirmative litigation; and co-counseling complex cases.

Candidates must be admitted to the New York State Bar with:
• 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;
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience providing civil legal services to low-income people or comparable relevant experience;
• At least 2 years’ experience in housing, landlord/tenant, or related advocacy;
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills;
• Strong organizational skills and ability to supervise a diverse, fast-paced, and high-volume caseload;
• Excellent leadership skills;
• An ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds;
• Prior supervision experience preferred, but not required;
• 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 required.

Manhattan Legal Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people over 40 are welcome and are encouraged to apply.
Bar associations and other organizations: Manhattan Legal Services seeks and welcomes your recommendations for candidates who meet the foregoing qualifications and, in addition, requests that you or your organization encourage such candidates to apply.

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.