Senior Staff Attorney II

Organization Overview:

BronxWorks helps individuals and families improve their economic and social well-being. From toddlers to seniors we feed shelter teach and support our neighbors to build a stronger Bronx all aspects of our work BronxWorks strives for the highest ethical and performance standards. We are guided by the belief that people must be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their present situation or past experiences. We have over 65 locations throughout the Bronx providing a variety of programs that assist in the areas of family children and youth support educational services senior services homelessness financial empowerment and workforce development among others. With over 50 years of experience supporting Bronx communities we are an employer of choice for anyone interested in a meaningful career in the social services field.

BronxWorks Legal Services Tenant Defense Program:

The BronxWorks model aims to break the cycle of poverty by mobilizing the organizations extensive resources to apply a holistic and progressive approach helping individuals and families transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. A crucial component of this continuum of support is BronxWorks Legal Services which provides free legal assistance to those seeking immigration stability facing eviction and surviving domestic violence and other crimes. Within BronxWorks Legal Services the Tenant Defense Program plays a vital role in securing housing stability by representing low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and advocating for essential public benefits to preserve affordable housing. The program supports New York Citys groundbreaking Universal Access to Counsel initiative which ensures low-income tenants the right to full legal representation in eviction proceedings.

Senior Staff Attorney Opportunity

The Tenant Defense Senior Staff Attorney role is designed to provide professional development opportunities for attorneys with at least three years of experience who are still building toward supervisory roles and includes a salary increase above the staff attorney addition to handling casework and meeting other staff attorney responsibilities the Senior Attorney will work closely with a supervising attorney to mentor junior staff and law graduates. This includes accompanying law graduates to court signing stipulations pleadings and motions on their behalf and offering guidance on case strategy legal research and court filings. Moreover the Senior Attorney will support the professional growth of less experienced staff through mentorship and training and provide constructive feedback. They will also assist in leading legal team meetings CLE trainings and strategic planning sessions.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly supervise junior attorneys law graduates paralegals and/or other assigned staff including assigning and monitoring work setting priorities approving schedules and ensuring adherence to legal and program standards.
• Conduct formal performance evaluations of direct reports and provide written and verbal recommendations on promotions terminations disciplinary actions and salary adjustments; such recommendations are given particular weight in final employment decisions.
• Hold staff accountable for meeting deadlines data quality standards and program deliverables and take corrective action where performance does not meet expectations.
• Hold staff accountable for attending in-person meetings including weekly unit meetings and monthly department-wide meetings.
• Mentor and train staff including accompanying junior attorneys and law graduates to court providing guidance on legal strategies and offering constructive feedback on case preparation and litigation.
• Approve leave requests and work schedules for supervised staff and reallocate resources as needed to meet program needs.
• Assist in leading legal team meetings CLE trainings and strategic planning sessions.
• Exercise independent judgment in directing the work of others to ensure that client needs and contract requirements are met.
• Supervise intake processes and join a weekly court supervision rotation with other supervisors to ensure quality representation and adherence to program standards.
• Maintain regular office hours and participate in a weekly rotation of in-office and site supervision at the Tenant Defense Program site in the Bronx.
• Attend meetings regarding the case management system to provide input on its buildout ensuring it meets funder requirements facilitates collection of impact data and is configured to the programs needs for clarity efficiency and ease of use.
• Fully understand data reporting and compliance requirements and enforce data quality standards across the team ensuring timely and accurate entry of case outcomes services provided and other reportable metrics.
• Provide comprehensive legal representation to tenants referred to BronxWorks through the Universal Access to Counsel initiative and other referral sources.
• Litigate in various forums including housing court appellate courts and administrative tribunals including NYCHA tenancy termination proceedings and housing benefits hearings.
• Provide full legal representation including: counsel clients on all available legal defenses and strategies; regularly communicate with clients to ensure they are informed on all pertinent information about their case; negotiate with outside counsel; engage in motion practice; present oral arguments at hearings and court conferences; conduct discovery and depositions; prepare for and conduct evidentiary hearings and trials; and advocate with government agencies and external providers on clients behalf.
• Develop and apply expertise in housing court practice housing programs and subsidies and public benefits to secure the best possible client outcomes.
• Participate in court-based intake processes and conduct intakes.
• Engage in client and community outreach and education initiatives.
• Attend and actively participate in all weekly unit meetings and department-wide all-staff meetings in person to ensure collaboration case coordination and alignment on program goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in New York State (or eligibility to be admitted on motion or by waiver).
• At least three (3) years of experience practicing law with substantial litigation and trial experience. Experience in New York City Housing Courts or with landlord-tenant matters is strongly preferred but candidates with equivalent experience in other jurisdictions will be considered.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and serving low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity.
• Proven ability to leverage transferable skills including trial advocacy legal writing strategic case planning and litigation management to excel in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and conduct outreach in under-resourced neighborhoods.
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage a diverse and dynamic caseload generated by a universal access to counsel intake system where clients are legally entitled to representation.

Preferred Qualifications & Plus Factors

• Supervisory or Leadership Experience: Prior experience mentoring or supervising junior attorneys law graduates or legal interns particularly in housing or tenant defense work.
• Advanced Litigation Experience: Extensive experience litigating complex housing matters including trials appeals and handling high-volume caseloads in housing court.
• Experience with Housing Subsidy Programs: In-depth knowledge of New York City housing programs such as Section 8 NYCHA and other rental assistance or housing subsidy programs.
• Proficiency in Multiple Languages: Fluency or proficiency in additional languages commonly spoken in the Bronx such as Spanish French Arabic or Mandarin.
• Community Engagement: A track record of working with community organizations conducting know-your-rights workshops or engaging in tenant organizing or advocacy.
• Experience in Public Benefits Advocacy: Familiarity with public benefits programs (e.g. SNAP SSI cash assistance) and advocating for clients to secure these benefits in addition to housing stability.
• Training and Development Skills: Experience leading Continuing Legal Education (CLE) trainings workshops or providing structured legal training to colleagues or law students.
• Knowledge of Anti-Displacement Strategies: Experience in fighting against tenant harassment and displacement particularly in gentrifying neighborhoods through both litigation and policy advocacy.
• Tech Savviness: Experience using legal tech tools like LegalServer Clio eCourts or document automation platforms to streamline legal practice and improve efficiency.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use a computer for prolonged periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to stand walk or sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to climb five flights of stairs if required to conduct home visits and/or fieldwork.
• Ability to travel in the boroughs of New York City and its adjacent counties via public transportation.
• Ability to travel for a minimum of 1 mile within a reasonable amount of time and in all types of weather including inclement weather if required to conduct home visits and/or field work.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BronxWorks is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. This commitment applies to all terms conditions and privileges of employment including but not limited to recruitment hiring compensation training and employee development placement promotion demotion upgrading downgrading transfer layoff and termination. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race color gender sex age religion creed national origin ancestry citizenship marital status sexual orientation physical or mental disability medical condition military and veteran status gender identity or expression genetic information status as a victim of domestic violence or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process please contact .