Staff Attorney - Housing

Join to apply for the Staff Attorney - Housing role at Legal Assistance Of Western New York, Inc. (LawNY)

The Olean office of LawNY® seeks to fill an immediate opening for a full‑time Staff Attorney in its Housing Unit. The Staff Attorney will provide direct legal representation, primarily in mortgage and tax foreclosure matters to Cattaraugus County residents with low income at risk of losing their homes. The candidate must have the caring, patience, and emotional maturity to help people with low‑income overcome crisis situations.

• Staff Attorneys at LawNY® provide comprehensive legal services to eligible clients and the ideal candidate should have a strong understanding of how civil legal issues affecting communities with low-income intersect with social and economic justice.
• Staff Attorneys play a critical role in realizing LawNY®’s vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Every Staff Attorney is expected to actively engage in learning and becoming increasingly skilled in practice that supports this vision.

• Admitted to practice and in good standing in New York State.
• Demonstrated commitment of service to people with low-income.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

The beginning salary for a Staff Attorney at LawNY with no experience is $75,000 and the salary for a Staff Attorney with thirty years of experience is $111,100. Salary will be based on experience. LawNY is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).

• 94% Employer paid Medical Premium with 100% Employer paid in‑network deductible
• 100% Employer paid Dental Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Enhanced Short‑term Disability
• 100% Employer paid Long‑term Disability
• Vision Insurance
• 20 Paid Vacation days per year
• 12 Sick days per year
• 5 Personal days per year
• 13.5 Holidays plus 2 floating Holidays per year
• 35-Hour Work Week
• Hybrid Work Schedule (new staff are able to work from home up to 3 days per week. After 6 months, this increases to 5 days per week with Manager approval, as workload permits)

• Maintain a full‑time caseload representing eligible clients served by our Eviction Prevention Unit.
• Develop and maintain specialized knowledge in housing matters, particularly: landlord‑tenant, subsidized housing, and government benefits.
• Provide legal services to low‑income clients and client groups regarding these matters including advice, negotiation, litigation and administrative advocacy.
• Interact respectfully with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, with an awareness of the importance of cultural competence and humility.
• Collaborate with other LawNY® advocates, human services providers, non‑profit organizations and community groups as well as the courts, administrative tribunals and the private bar to address legal problems within our community, including providing community legal education.
• Contribute to a safe and healthy work environment for fellow employees.
• Cooperate in all grant reporting requirements, program reporting, timekeeping, file maintenance, case closing and compliance review.
• Maintain a high level of professional competence through attendance of training sessions, seminars and conferences and individual efforts to keep abreast of current developments in the area of poverty law and the application of an equity lens to client service.

• Litigation and advocacy experience in state and/or federal court and/or administrative forums within at least one related area of poverty law, especially landlord‑tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, fair housing, and/or government benefits.
• Experience incorporating an anti‑racist and anti‑oppressive lens into legal practice.
• An understanding of the concepts of structural and institutional racism and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including a commitment to providing trauma‑informed services.
• Lived experience with our client communities.
• True fluency in a language other than English that is spoken by our clients.