Benefits and Homelessness Litigation - Supervising Attorney

The Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project (SNP) provides direct legal and social services in the areas of public benefits access, homelessness, and tenant rights. SNP also engages in policy advocacy and community organizing around homelessness and welfare rights issues led by impacted community members, the Safety Net Activists. The role of a Benefits and Homeless Litigation Supervising Attorney is to develop and work on impact litigation and direct legal services to advance and protect the rights of homeless New Yorker and public benefits recipients, to provide supervision and support to the Safety Net Project’s (SNP) staff attorney(s) on the Benefits and Homeless Team, and to generally provide legal support and technical assistance for SNP’s benefits and homeless organizing.

Primary Responsibilities

• Legal research, legal writing, and court appearances in impact litigation to advance and protect the rights of homeless New Yorker and public benefits recipients, as well as working on all aspects of said litigation.
• Identifying and interviewing prospective plaintiffs for SNP’s impact litigation projects.
• Working to identify and secure pro bono partners for SNP impact litigation projects.
• Communications with clients, pro bono partners, co-counsel, and other community partners.
• Directly supervises homelessness and benefits staff attorney(s), by doing regular support meetings, case review, and providing practice guidance, mentorship and support as needed.
• Second seating trials and supporting supervisees in trial preparation and development of trial strategies.
• Working with the SNP organizing and outreach team and homelessness and benefits advocates to identify and investigate potential impact litigation projects.
• Participate in developing and presenting trainings for SNP’s Benefits and Homeless staff.
• Other duties relating to homelessness and benefits litigation assigned by your supervisor as needed.

Qualifications

• Admitted, or eligible for admission, to the New York State Bar.
• Minimum 3 years of litigation experience including in NYS Supreme and/or US federal court.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills.
• Excellent litigation skills and experience litigating individual and group cases.
• A commitment to supporting, training, and mentoring junior attorneys.
• Sound strategic judgment and the drive to originate and implement practice improvements.
• Strong anti-oppression and social justice approach, including a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and housing justice, and experience working with diverse communities, including using movement lawyering models.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Spanish proficiency is preferred.