Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem

Legal Advocate – Housing Defense Team

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office located in Harlem, providing criminal, civil, and family representation. NDS Clients are represented by multidisciplinary teams including attorneys, advocates and social workers. NDS is accepting applications for a Legal Advocate for the Housing Defense Practice, a component of our Civil Defense Practice.

The Housing Defense Practice plays an integral role in NDSs fulfillment of its holistic mission and in realizing the right to counsel in housing proceedings. The team is part of the monumental movement toward a civilGideon, providing assigned counsel representation to low- and no-income tenants facing a wide range of eviction proceedings in order to safeguard the right to secure, stable housing and combat the destabilization and disintegration of New Yorks diverse communities. The Legal Advocate is responsible for supporting the Housing Defense Practices work and its clients.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide excellent, client-centered representation and support individual tenants facing eviction and housing insecurity from intake through case resolution;
• Conduct client intake and screen for representation;
• Provide advice and counsel, informal advocacy and other brief services to clients in housing-related matters;
• Advocate for clients to access and obtain benefits, subsidies and other services to resolve Housing Court proceedings;
• Demonstrate energy, enthusiasm and ingenuity in working on challenging cases as assigned by supervisors;
• Represent NDS at Coalition meetings and community-based initiatives on housing issues on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

1. Bachelors degree;
2. At least one year of experience working with low-income tenants or with New York City benefits agencies preferred, though exceptional inexperienced candidates will also be considered;
3. A demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds;
4. Excellent written and oral communication skills;
5. Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage a diverse caseload;
6. Must be able to travel throughout New York City to the various courts, administrative agencies and to client appointments;*
7. Must be able to work cooperatively with attorneys and other NDS advocates, and problem-solve independently;
8. Fluency in Spanish is strongly