The Urban Justice Center’s Community Development Project (CDP) is seeking a staff attorney to support community-based organizations and their memberships in New York City in attaining economic justice by providing a full range of legal services to low-income tenants, including litigation, outreach and education, and advocacy. The position offers a unique opportunity for an attorney to litigate on behalf of groups and individuals, and to build relationships with local community organizers and service providers.

The CDP provides legal, technical, and research and policy assistance to community groups engaged in a wide range of community development efforts in the areas of tenant, consumer, and workers’ rights; non-profit law; low-income housing development; access to healthcare; job creation; and economic and environmental justice. In the area of tenants’ rights, CDP litigates many cases on behalf of tenant associations seeking to stand up for their rights and receive repairs and other forms of justice from their landlords.  Applicants are encouraged to learn more about the CDP’s work by looking at our website, www.urbanjustice.org/cdp.

The attorney will be responsible for providing direct legal assistance to community groups and their members in the area of landlord-tenant law, including affirmative litigation (e.g., HP actions, rent strikes, and 7A proceedings) on behalf of tenant associations, as well as individual anti-eviction litigation.  The attorney’s advocacy duties will include training community groups and their members on tenants’ rights issues, assisting with legislative and/or regulatory advocacy, organizing and participating in housing clinics, and providing advice and referrals. This job will require regular night meetings and full commitment and support to the CDP team.

Qualifications

Applicants must be admitted to the New York State Bar. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in civil legal services, particularly in the area of landlord-tenant law. The successful candidate will have strong writing and analytical skills, relevant background and experience, and a demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations. A second language – especially Spanish, East Asian, or South Asian languages – is strongly preferred.   Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until July 16, 2010.  Send a résumé and cover letter to Sadia Rahman via email at srahman@urbanjustice.org.