We are a team of attorneys and advocates working with organizers and base building groups across New York City to help tenants fight harassment, obtain repairs, and stand up to the gentrification and displacement pressures plaguing the city.
The attorney will be responsible for collaborating directly with housing organizers and tenant associations members to build power within the NYC housing movement. Our attorneys challenge landlords, lenders, and government enforcement agencies by providing direct legal assistance to community groups and their members in the area of landlord-tenant law, including affirmative litigation on behalf of tenant associations (e.g., HP actions, rent strikes, and 7A proceedings, Supreme Court actions, and bankruptcy court representation), as well as selective individual anti-eviction representation of tenant leaders. The advocacy roles will include partnering with housing organizers to develop campaign strategies, training community groups and their members on tenants’ rights issues, assisting partner-led coalitions with legislative and/or regulatory advocacy, advising organizers and tenants on their rights to organize, and staffing housing clinics. Because we meet our clients where they are, the job will require regular night meetings and some weekend clinics.
We are a diverse team, committed to our mission of dedicating our work to dismantle racial, economic and social oppression. TakeRoot Justice encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low income backgrounds, and people with personal experience with the criminal justice system. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities we serve.
The ideal candidate will be:
- Committed to economic and racial justice and the housing justice movement in NYC
- Passionate about working in partnership with housing organizers and lawyering in creative ways with deference to organizing strategies
- Eager to work with a diverse client base on individual and group litigation
- Admitted to the New York State Bar or have pending admission to the New York State Bar
- Personallyconnected to the work
The ideal candidate will have:
- Professional or personal experience with New York City housing law or the housing justice movement. Previous litigation experience is desirable but not required for this position.
- Experience in community organizing or working in support of organizing campaigns.
- Professional or personal experience working with diverse communities and across lines of difference.
- A second language—particularly Spanish,Mandarin, Cantonese, Bangla or French —is a plus.
Please email your resume and cover letter jobs@takerootjustice.org, attention Sadia Rahman, including “Housing Rights Attorney” in the subject line. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Salary is determined in accordance with our collective bargaining agreement scale. We provide excellent benefits, and a vacation and leave package. This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW, Local 2320.
TakeRoot Justice is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status, or marital status.