Tenant Defense Supervising Attorney

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 community. In 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 those seeking a meaningful career in the social services field.

BronxWorks Legal Services – Tenant Defense Program

The BronxWorks model aims to break the cycle of poverty through a holistic approach, helping individuals and families transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. A key component of this continuum of support is BronxWorks Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to those seeking immigration stability, facing eviction, and survivors of domestic violence and other crimes. Within BronxWorks Legal Services, the Tenant Defense Program plays a vital role in securing housing stability for low-income tenants. The program supports New York City’s groundbreaking Universal Access to Counsel initiative, which ensures low-income tenants the right to full legal representation in eviction proceedings. 

Supervising Attorney Opportunity

BronxWorks seeks three experienced attorneys to join the Tenant Defense Program’s management team as supervising attorneys. Reporting to the program director, the supervising attorneys help to develop and lead the program and ensure excellent legal representation to clients by providing training, supervision, and mentorship to a team of staff attorneys and a paralegal as well as carrying a reduced independent caseload. The ideal candidate is passionate about social justice, knowledgeable about NYC housing law, practice, and benefits, and capable of developing and carrying out creative legal strategies in the pursuit of optimal client outcomes. 

Key Responsibilities

Team Supervision and Mentorship:

• Supervise a team of staff attorneys, a paralegal, and volunteers/interns, ensuring high standards of representation and client service while meeting program and grant objectives.
• Conduct regular one-on-one supervision meetings.
• Lead regular case review meetings. Oversee analysis of legal issues, case strategy, and case administration. Set and enforce litigation schedules and deadlines.
• Review and edit pleadings and other written work product.
• Supervise appearances in court and administrative proceedings. Second seat entry level attorneys.
• Coordinate and supervise intake and case assignments.
• Address client, community, and staff concerns.
• Supervise team paralegal, ensuring high-quality support to staff attorneys and clients, including effective benefits application assistance, administrative and advocacy support.
• Mentor staff and provide resources, training, and professional development.
• As needed, provide program-wide supervision on rotation with other supervising attorneys.
• Develop and maintain expert knowledge of applicable law, practice, and benefits.

Client Representation:

• Maintain a reduced caseload, representing tenants in eviction proceedings in housing court and administrative settings, including hearings, trials, and appeals.

Community Engagement:

• Build relationships with BronxWorks programs, community organizations, advocates, government agencies, elected officials, provider networks, and the courts. 
• Collaborate with internal and external resources to address client needs.
• As directed, attend meetings to promote organizational, program, and client interests.

Program Management:

• Collaborate with the program director and other supervising attorneys to provide strategic leadership and direction and to develop and strengthen program policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with data entry and reporting requirements.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Admitted to the New York State Bar in good standing or eligible for admission through reciprocity.
• At least 3 years of experience representing tenants in eviction proceedings, ideally in NYC Housing Court.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and housing rights.

Skills and Competencies:

• Comprehensive knowledge of NYC housing law and related benefits.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, written and oral advocacy, communication, and litigation skills.
• Sound strategic judgment and the drive to initiate and implement practice improvements.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to both work independently and lead an effective team in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven leadership ability.
• Proficiency in computer skills for database tracking, report preparation, communication, and administrative tasks.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior supervisory experience in a legal setting.
• Proficiency in Spanish or another relevant language in addition to English is preferred.

Salary, Benefits and Hours

• The salary range for this position is $115,000.00 to $130,000.00 per year, based on experience.
• An overview of benefits can be found at https://bronxworks.org/take-action/work-with-us/. 
• Hours: Full time/Exempt, on a hybrid remote/in-office schedule.
• Like all employees, this position is an employee at will.

BronxWorks Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

BronxWorks seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

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 hrbenefits@bronxworks.org.