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Staff Attorney

Vaco
$70,000.00 - $100,000.00 / yr
United States, New York, New York
Jun 01, 2025

Our Client Organization Overview: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.

Intro/Program Description:Our clientprovides 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 through Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Salary Range:$70,000 (Law Graduate) $75,000 - $100,000(compensation based on experience and Local 2320 union scale).

Qualifications
  • 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;

Computer Skills:

  • To perform this job successfully, an individual should be comfortable operating Microsoft Office programs, especially Outlook, Word and Excel.

Physical Requirements:

  • Frequent travel to court, especially Manhattan Housing Court.

Work Environment:

  • Hybrid/Office and court settings;

  • Staff attorneys may need to visit clients in their homes and conduct tenant meetings in buildings where the tenants reside.

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

  • California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
  • Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
  • Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
  • Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
  • Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

  • the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
  • licensure and certification requirements;
  • office location and other geographic considerations;
  • other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

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