Supervising Housing Attorney

AGENCY BACKGROUND:

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) is a community-based, not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 that has grown into a leading multi-service agency with over 140 staff serving New York City with a focus on upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Our mission is to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of the people in our community on their paths to secure and prosperous futures. Integration is the cornerstone of NMIC’s programs, and our staff can identify and address a broad array of immediate needs through comprehensive crisis intervention services. With their crises resolved, clients move seamlessly to capacity building services through our holistic programs designed to transition individuals and families to self-sufficiency.

• Our Legal Services, Social Services, and Weatherization programs meet community members’ basic needs including housing, income, nutrition and health.
• Our Community Organizing program empowers groups of residents to collectively secure longer term and larger scale improvements to their own basic needs.
• Our Education & Career Services program imparts individual community members with the practical tools necessary to build secure and prosperous futures.

Job Title: Supervising Attorney

Department: Legal, Organizing, & Advocacy

Unit: Housing

Reports to: Assistant Director for Housing

Location: Main Office: 45 Wadsworth Avenue, NY, NY 10033

FLSA: Exempt

Model: Hybrid, averaging 2 days per week in office

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

A management position in NMIC’s Legal Department responsible for supervising housing attorneys’ work in individual housing matters. This position also maintains a small independent caseload of housing cases.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Attorney Supervision

• Ensure proper support and mentorship for staff attorneys, including providing in court supervision, individual case review meetings, document review, and ad hoc support.
• Support staff attorneys providing services under NMIC’s housing contracts.
• Set and enforce expectations for staff attorneys in developing case strategy, maintaining proper litigation schedules, administering cases (including casenoting and calendaring), and following best practices, in coordination with the Assistant Director for Housing, the Coordinating Housing Attorney and Coordinating Attorney for Housing Litigation.
• Coordinate trial dates with Coordinating Housing Attorney, Coordinating Attorney for Housing Litigation, and Assistant Director for Housing.
• Second seat entry level attorneys at motions and trials.
• Troubleshoot case issues in housing court.
• Mentor attorneys to support their professional development.
• Lead group attorney meetings (on rotation with other supervisors).
• Provide general court supervision (on rotation with other supervisors).
• Provide supervision at court intake, in coordination with the Coordinating Housing Attorney.

Client Representation

• Maintain a small individual caseload (approximately one quarter the caseload of a staff attorney).
• Represent clients through administrative hearings, trials and appeals.

Service Coordination

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director for Housing, Coordinating Housing Attorney, Coordinating Attorney for Housing Litigation, and other members of the Legal Department management team to provide high quality services across the department.
• Attend department and agency meetings as required.

Additional tasks may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• JD and NYS Bar admission
• At least 3 years of housing legal experience required.
• Experience working with similar populations in a community-based setting strongly preferred.
• Proven mentoring skills.
• Proven ability to multi-task and prioritize work.
• Strong verbal and writing skills in English.
• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish are strongly preferred.

SALARY/BENEFITS: NMIC offers a competitive salary based on experience and education as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance; paid time off including 20 vacation days, 15 sick days, 5 personal days, 11 agency holidays, plus the week off from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day; a 401k with agency contribution; and other benefits.

NMIC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

NMIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively encourages candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply for employment. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements in terms of qualifications. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered unless specifically stated otherwise.