What are the responsibilities and job description for the Foreclosure Prevention Project Staff Attorney - Albany position at Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY?
Ready to Make a Difference?
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, a nonprofit civil legal services program, is seeking a Foreclosure Prevention Attorney. Legal Aid's mission is to fight for fairness, dignity, and justice for those living in poverty and for a society that is inclusive and equitable for all. We transform lives, build communities, and empower people by using the law to address individual and systemic wrongs and inequities. Our service area spans sixteen counties, in upstate New York, encompassing six regional offices. This position can be based out of any of our six offices. For more information about our work, our staff, and our clients, visit www.lasnny.org.
We are a unionized program with excellent benefits, offering generous time off, excellent health insurance coverage with premiums primarily paid by LASNNY, health and long-term disability insurance, retirement contributions, tuition reimbursement, qualifying moving expenses, and flexible hybrid-remote and alternative work schedules.
About the Role:
The attorney will provide legal assistance to homeowners threatened with foreclosure. Responsible for providing advice, brief service, negotiation, and full representation in foreclosure proceedings, settlement conferences, and other foreclosure-related cases to homeowners at risk of mortgage or tax foreclosure.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Engage in non-litigation advocacy with mortgage servicers, tax districts, and other local and state agencies.
- Provide counsel and, when necessary, assistance to homeowners in accessing/applying for available funds to prevent foreclosure.
- Responsible for related detailed grant reporting and must work closely with other staff at LASNNY, project partners, and housing counseling agencies.
- Expected to conduct outreach to prospective clients and routinely be out of the office at court, community partner agencies, or other off-site locations, attend meetings of the HomeSave Coalition and other local community meetings, and participate in clinics, community legal education, or other outreach events.
- Provide free legal assistance to eligible households in a variety of legal matters to meet their clients' essential needs, such as housing and subsistence income, including housing-related bankruptcy, housing post-foreclosure, or other home-ownership-related issues.
- Expected to represent clients in multiple forums, in varied areas of law, and types of actions and proceedings.
- Provide advice, brief service, and full representation to eligible clients, Responsibilities will include data collection, grant reporting, case file, and case management system maintenance.
Skills and Education Requirements:
- JD from an accredited law school.
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and providing high-quality legal services to clients in civil matters.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other LASNNY staff.
- Commitment to professionalism, collegiality, and teamwork.
- Sensitive to the needs of the low and moderate-income households in crisis.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Proficient computer skills.
- Ability to handle high volume caseload, work off-site, and collaboratively with community partner agency staff.
- Prior experience in foreclosure representation, real estate, or housing law-related experience is preferred.
- Reliable transportation. Occasional travel required.
- Ability to communicate in Spanish preferred.
Work Environment:
This position operates in a professional law office environment and occasionally may require the carrying of regular office supplies. This role requires the use of standard office equipment and software and remote videoconferencing platforms. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
At LASNNY we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. We strongly encourage applications from women, BIPOC, LGBTQI persons, protected veterans, applicants and recipients of public assistance, older adults and people with disabilities.
If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at LASNNY and we will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.