Staff Attorney
New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) seeks a Staff Attorney to join a new community and economic development program within NHLAA. The Attorney will provide legal advice and assistance to grassroots organizations, nonprofits and small businesses and unincorporated groups in a variety of areas including community development, real estate and lease issues, affordable housing, organizational development, and transactional work. The position offers a unique opportunity to deploy expertise in several areas of the law while building relationships with local community organizers, leaders, city officials, and service providers. It also provides a unique opportunity to design a new model of community development practice for local legal assistance organizations that could be replicated if successful.
Responsibilities:
Primary Responsibilities include:
• Advise and support community-based organizations and unincorporated groups in planning and implementing community development efforts.
• Represent community-based organizations in entity formation, governance, tax exemption applications and compliance matters.
• Collaborate with the Community Organizer to ensure that concerns and interests of current residents and businesses are considered in major community development projects initiated by the City and/or other entities.
• Represent small businesses and nonprofits in commercial lease review and negotiations.
• Counsel small business owners.
• Conduct workshops and trainings for community-based organizations and their members.
• Advocate to legislative bodies and agencies on behalf of or in partnership with community-based organizations and their members regarding issues related but not limited to laws and policies addressing equitable community development at the city and state level.
• Work in tandem with the Community Organizing team to support the work of raising the voice of residents around community organizing and economic development. Closing Date: October 26, 2018 Salary and compensation: Commensurate with experience and extremely generous benefits. For more information, please see www.nhlegal.org.
It is the policy of New Haven Legal Assistance to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Required:
• Admission to the Connecticut Bar.
• Demonstrated commitment to grassroots efforts for economic, racial and social justice.
• Strong writing and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Previous professional experience or other evidence of familiarity with transactional law
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Access to car, insurance
Strongly Preferred:
• At least 4+ years post-law school experience in comparable work, especially contract negotiation and drafting, real estate development matters, commercial leases and corporate entity formation and operation, and affordable housing finance.
• Experience in non-profit governance and related issues
• Experience working with community organizers and/or community organizing groups.
• Experience working with social justice organizations.
• Experience with landlord/tenant proceedings and ground leases.
Please send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references to: Carolyn Gontarski at cgontarski@nhlegal.org