10 Best public interest attorney Jobs in New York, NY (April 2025)

Queens Defenders is seeking an experienced attorney to join and lead a dedicated team of attorneys, paralegals, housing advocates and navigators to provide 1,500 individuals facing eviction with free, high-quality legal and holistic representation in Queens Housing Court. About Queens Defenders Founded in 1996, Queens Defenders is a leading Public Defender Organization providing high-quality, holistic representation for indigent community members in Queens, NY - New York City’s most diverse borough and one of the most diverse locales in the world. We give life to our mission through our core values: a commitment to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and professional environment; relentless in our pursuit of justice; unwavering in our commitment to excellence in the courtroom and in the community; client-centered and holistic in our representation, advocacy, and support services; respectful of the individuals with whom we interact. At Queens Defenders, dedicated teams of criminal defense attorneys, immigration lawyers, housing attorneys, social workers, investigators, and client-support specialists come together to tirelessly champion justice for each and every client. Our highly skilled staff of 290, serves and positively impacts the lives of thousands of individuals annually through this collaborative and supportive approach. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is an attorney with housing court or other relevant experience who is admitted to the New York State Bar or can be admitted through reciprocity. The candidate will possess a demonstrable background in public interest work, and a commitment to the mission of Queens Defenders. We are seeking individuals with strong self-motivation, and excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills to lead a team of attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and housing advocates and navigators. The supervising attorney will also be tasked with leading a team of attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and housing advocates and navigators by effectively communicating expectations, goals, and the QD way while fostering an open environment that facilitates communication. A commitment to producing high-quality work in a timely manner is essential. Familiarity with relevant housing court practice is preferred. Essential Duties/Responsibilities · Supervise staff attorneys and a team of support professionals to ensure the clients receive the best legal representation · Coordinate intake and respond to client, community, and staff concerns · Monitor and maintain a high standard of holistic representation and client service · Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy, and supervise the implementation of legal strategies · Represent clients by maintaining a caseload and co-counseling with staff attorneys · Develop and maintain community support and relationships with community-based organizations and resources, government agencies, elected officials, and the courts · Develop and maintain productive work environment · Conduct community education, training, and outreach to promote the work of the office · Other duties as assigned Qualifications · Juris Doctor with at least 8 to 10 years or more of legal and supervisory experience and practice · Admission to New York Bar (or the ability to be admitted through reciprocity) · Prior supervisory experience preferred · Demonstrated commitment to public interest or pro bono work · Excellent oral and written communication skills · Excellent litigation skills · Ability to lead and motivate. · Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and remain calm under pressure · Ability to work with highly confidential and privileged information · Ability to work in a collaborative, holistic team model · Proficiency in languages other than English is desirable, but not required Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Queens Defenders values diversity and believes that a diverse staff is best placed to represent our borough, which derives its beauty from being one of the most diverse locales in the world. To best serve our clientele, model the place in which we practice, and to cultivate the best environment possible, we welcome applicants of diverse backgrounds, thoughts, perspectives, and experiences. We also provide all staff members with professional development and advancement opportunities because the more diverse and inclusive we are the more collaborative and supportive we are. For more information about our office generally. Salary Salary Commensurate with Experience Benefits Queens Defenders believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. Benefits include: health insurance (including dental and vision insurance), FSA/HSA, generous paid time off, parental leave, disability and life insurance, and 401 (k) contributions. As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, Queens Defenders prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest, or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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