Staff Attorney (Law Project)

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families. The Isaacs Center focuses primarily on the needs of children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth, and aging New Yorkers. We operate at community centers located in the neighborhoods of East Harlem and Yorkville, and seek to deliver programs that are impactful, innovative, and intergenerational.

Program Description: The Goddard Riverside Law Project provides free legal services and organizing support to low-income individuals, families, and groups of tenants in the west side of Manhattan. Our mission is to empower tenants and preserve affordable housing through advocacy, legal representation, relationship building, and grassroots education. We aim to protect tenants’ rights and hold bad actors accountable while working towards establishing pro-tenant laws and sound housing policy through city and statewide coalition work. To these ends, we integrate tenant voices and collaborate with the community, particularly SRO tenants and marginalized populations.

Schedule: Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm

Salary Range: $77,500 (Law Graduate) $80,000 - $117,032.48 (Bar Admitted Attorneys). Compensation based on experience and Local 2325 union scale. 

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties

• Represent low-income individuals and tenant groups in housing-related litigation – in particular non-payment, holdover and repairs-related cases – in the state court system, including Housing Court and appellate courts;
• Advocate for clients with various administrative agencies for matters including rent overcharge, harassment, public assistance, rent arrears grants, and Section 8 benefits;
• Handle full case load from intake interview through negotiation/litigation, including motion practice and trial, to resolution;
• Advise individual tenants, tenant groups, and tenant organizations on legal rights and strategies; conduct know-your-rights trainings, housing clinics and workshops;
• Conduct legal research, write legal memoranda;
• Assist in identifying and developing impact litigation;
• Work with tenant organizers to do outreach and represent tenant associations in various courts and administrative agencies;
• Participate in developing organizing and legal strategies in furtherance of the Project’s efforts to protect and preserve permanent affordable housing.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• Admitted, or pending admission, to the New York State Bar;
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice work;
• Experience representing or working with tenants, or low-income individuals and households;
• Familiarity with New York State and City housing-related issues and laws;
• Strong research and writing skills;
• Fluency in Spanish is preferred.