Legal Director

ORGANIZATION: The FHJC is a non-profit civil rights organization that serves New York City and the seven suburban New York counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester. Our mission is to: 1) challenge and eliminate housing discrimination; 2) promote policies that foster open, accessible, and inclusive communities; and 3) strengthen the enforcement of local, state, and federal fair housing laws. Since its founding in 2005, the FHJC investigations have led to legal challenges that have opened more than 81,000 units of housing to previously excluded people, recovered more than $55 million in damages and penalties for housing discrimination victims, and changed the ways many housing providers and government agencies do business. Our large service area, broad range of investigations, excellent policy advocacy, and strong litigation program make the FHJC one of the most effective and highly regarded fair housing organizations in the country.

POSITION SUMMARY: FHJC is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as its Legal Director to provide critical oversight of its legal matters and leadership to its legal staff. The Legal Director will be responsible for working closely with the array of cooperating, partner attorneys, including civil rights firms, that work with the FHJC to enforce fair housing laws in Federal and State Courts, and in State and City administrative agencies. The Legal Director will also support and provide advice to the FHJC’s investigative, intake, outreach and policy staff and work closely with the Executive Director and other FHJC Directors on organizational strategy and administration and the alignment of activities and goals.

The Legal Director reports to the Executive Director. Candidates must have a J.D. from an accredited law school, be admitted to practice law in New York State and be in good standing. Admission to the Southern District of New York and/or the Eastern District of New York is preferred but not required.

REPORTS TO: Executive Director

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordination and Oversight of Legal Matters:

1. Make referrals to and coordinate the work of multiple, cooperating partner attorneys and firms that represent individual complainants and/or the FHJC in litigation and administrative enforcement.
2. Work closely with the Executive Director (and when necessary, with Board members) on legal strategy in all potential and pending legal matters where FHCJ is a complainant or plaintiff.
3. Serve as a primary point of contact for cooperating attorneys from referral of a matter through case resolution.
4. Coordinate internal staff responses to interrogatories and document requests. Work with law firms to coordinate and prepare FHJC staff for depositions and other participation in enforcement actions.
5. Along with the Executive Director, attend mediations, settlement conferences, hearings,and trials in caseswhere the FHJC is a plaintiff or complainant as the corporate representative of the FHJC.
6. Field questions from and provide support to cooperating partner firms related to all aspects of a case. Oversee monitoring and compliance of settlement agreements and orders.
7. Work with the Executive Director and the Board Litigation Committee to recruit new cooperating attorneys and law firms to provide legal representation to the FHJC and to approve retainers and legal settlements.
8. Periodically present to and participate in Board of Director meetings and Board Litigation Committee meetings. Prepare legal docket information for Board meetings.

Organizational Leadership and Collaboration:

1. Directly Supervise FHJC attorney staff, including a Disability Justice and Accessibility Legal Fellow. Recruit, interview, select and supervise legal interns.
2. Oversee the Adele Friedman Housing Accessibility Fund which provides people with advice on reasonable modifications and in pertinent cases, with funding for those modifications. Oversee compliance with contractor and owner agreements to ensure modifications and accommodations are successfully achieved.
3. Collaborate closely with the Director of Investigations to ensure that investigations conducted by staff can form the basis for individual and/or systemic legal challenges designedto secure compliance with fair housinglaws and obtain community-based remedies, including the creation of more open, accessible, and inclusive communities. Collaborate with the Director of Investigations to ensure appropriate controls and quality assurance in the handling, storage and control of evidence obtained from investigations, complainants and/or witnesses. Work with the Executive Director and the Director of Investigations to prepare materials needed to support damages claims in litigation.
4. Collaborate closely with the Director of Intake and Outreach and FHJC Intake personnel to ensure that complaints are timely and fully jurisdictional.
5. Regularly meet with FHJC intakeand investigative staff to discussthe status of housing discrimination complaints and investigations. Confer with other FHJC staff members about making referrals to appropriate organizations, administrative agencies, and/or FHJC cooperating attorneys. Provide legal advice and assistance to other FHJC staff regarding organizational activities.
6. Develop legal training materials and train FHJC staff as well as external partners and stakeholders on fair housing laws. In collaboration with the Intake and Outreach team, create educational and information materials. Periodically attend education and outreach events with pertinent staff members.
7. Meet regularly with the Executive Director and other FHJC Directors and senior Administrative and Financial staff to coordinate goals, deliverables and activities across the organization, engage in strategic planning and assess new revenue opportunities and otherwise insure the excellent administration of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum three to five years’ experience in fair housing legal and administrative cases and/or civil rights cases.
• Knowledgeable about fair housing laws, fair housing policy and the history of discrimination and residential segregation.
• Commitment to vigorous enforcement of fair housing and fair lending laws and a demonstrated passion for social justice.
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience with organizational or program development and with training are all desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated teamwork skills, and an aptitude for problem-solving and staff management.
• Ability to work respectfully, cooperatively and effectively with diverse groups of people and organizations.
• A desire to contribute to the stewardship of the FHJC; this includes the ability to positively and productively contribute to the work culture of the FHJC in communications and work with the staff, the Board, and cooperating attorneys.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and attentiveness to detail. Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as creatively and collaboratively with colleagues.
• Familiarity with communities in the New York metropolitan area.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary for the role is $95,000$110,000 annually. This is a full-time position with a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage, paid time off, including parental leave, transportation benefit, stipend for use of personal phone, and an employer matched retirement plan. This position requires work primarily from the FHJC's office in Long Island City, Queens, NY and periodic travel within New York City and occasional travel to other states. A moving stipend will be provided if the successful candidate will be relocating to New York City.

LOCATION/CONTACT:

Michele Cortese, Esq.

Interim Executive Director

Fair Housing Justice Center, Inc.

30-30 Northern Blvd. Ste. 302 New York, NY 11101

Website: www.fairhousingjustice.org

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to fhjc@fairhousingjustice.org.

INTERVIEWS WILL NOT BE SCHEDULED UNLESS A COVER LETTER IS SUBMITTED.

The FHJC is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture and encourage applications from qualified individuals without consideration of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, weight, height, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.