Deputy Director- Housing Unit
Brooklyn Legal Services seeks a Deputy Director for its Housing Law Unit. The Housing Law Unit preserves affordable housing for Brooklyn’s low-income communities through representation of low-income tenants in eviction proceedings, collaboration with community based organizations, and affirmative litigation to challenge abusive and discriminatory behaviors that displace low-income families and eliminate affordable housing. The Unit is currently expanding its anti‐displacement advocacy, focused on supporting Brooklyn communities facing rapid gentrification. Recent affirmative cases and community projects include a Fair Housing case against a landlord with a record of harassing Black tenants, numerous cases which implicate the continued affordability of buildings that received tax breaks and incentives in the mid-80’s and were consequently subject to regulatory agreements for the last thirty years, and a coordinated litigation campaign to protect rent regulated tenants in buildings in foreclosure. Brooklyn Legal Services, part of Legal Services NYC, provides high-quality, innovative representation to address the pressing legal needs of Brooklyn’s diverse low-income population. BLS focuses on the problems that have the greatest impact on our clients — preserving affordable and decent housing, maintaining income support, redressing abusive lending and consumer practices, promoting family stability and mitigating the effects of domestic violence, and advocating for the disabled.
The Deputy Director will work closely with the Housing Unit Director and Deputy Directors to provide supervision to over 30 attorneys and paralegals; strengthen relationships with community partners; address systemic housing issues that perpetuate poverty; and handle administrative and grant responsibilities. The Deputy will be responsible for helping to develop and implement a strategic vision for the Unit’s work and supervising attorneys on a range of litigation including individual and group representation in Housing Court, administrative proceedings, and affirmative litigation in State and Federal Court. Other duties include intake review, community education and outreach, strengthening partnerships with community groups and elected officials, and policy advocacy. In addition to the qualifications below, the ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with a demonstrated ability to jump-start litigation or community-based campaigns and to collaborate with other staff to see such initiatives through to fruition. The Deputy will be expected to work collaboratively with and provide leadership for LSNYC’s city-wide housing practice.
Experience and Qualifications
We seek an attorney admitted to the New York State Bar with:
- A demonstrated passion for social justice and a commitment to working with low-income communities and communities of color to advance equity;
- Excellent analytical, written, and communication skills;
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and the ability to provide supportive and consistent supervision to attorneys, paralegals, and support staff in a fast paced and high-volume practice;
- Minimum of 5 years of litigation experience;
- Fluency or strong proficiency in Spanish, Russian, Haitian-Creole, Mandarin, or Cantonese (preferred);
- Background in organizing or strong ties to Brooklyn’s low-income communities (preferred); and
- Demonstrated expertise in housing law and policy, or experience with complex litigation.
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to bkhiring@sbls.org. Please write “Housing Deputy” in the subject line of the email.
For more information, please contact Meghan Faux, Acting Project Director, at mfaux@sbls.org or (718) 246-3276
BLS offers a generous benefits package. Salary is commensurate with experience.
Legal Services NYC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and people over the age of 40 are strongly encouraged to apply.