Details
Posted: 25-Aug-23
Location: Ithaca, New York
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Tenants Advocacy Attorney, Tenants Advocacy Practicum - Cornell Law School
Founded in 1887, Cornell Law School is a top-tier law school, currently ranked 13th by U.S. News & World Report. We offer a 3-year JD program for about 200 students per class, a one-year LLM program for about 90 students from countries throughout the world, and a doctoral (JSD) program for about 2-3 new students per year. Cornell Law School has 41 tenured and tenure-track faculty, including 20 with chaired faculty positions; and 15 clinical professors in the legal research and writing program and in clinics at the local, national, and international level. Our faculty is consistently ranked among the top in the country for scholarly productivity and influence, and has pre-eminence in many areas, including quantitative and qualitative empirical legal studies, international and comparative law, and robust doctrinal scholarship in core fields. Our school is committed to being recognized as the leader among law schools at combining inspiring theoretical, doctrinal, and experiential teaching with cutting-edge scholarship in a supportive, intellectually rich community, so that our graduates can achieve excellence in all facets of the legal profession.
Reporting to the Cornell Law School's Director Public Interest and Community Engagement, Michaela Rossettie Azemi, and the Tenants Advocacy Supervising Attorney, William Niebel, The Tenants Advocacy Staff Attorney will have primary responsibility for reviewing and accepting cases from the Tenants Legal Hotline, dedicated to providing legal services to support indigent tenants. The Tenants Advocacy Staff Attorney will:
- Work independently to accept cases and focus on developing an expanded reach for the hotline, across Tompkins, Tioga, Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler counties, with a special focus on BIPOC tenants, tenants at or below the poverty line, and tenants unable to be served by Legal Assistance of Western New York (including people in the U.S. without status).
- Conduct affirmative outreach to service providers across these five counties, in partnership with the Supervising Attorney and Practicum Professor, to build the hotline and expand the scope of representation.
- Provide expanded representation to hotline clients, including negotiation, drafting letters, and representation in eviction court.
- Supervise pro bono students on the hotline and work closely with the Tenants Advocacy Practicum professor to expand the number of cases the hotline accepts. Work closely with pro bono student volunteers on their cases.
- As appropriate, work with students from the Tenants Advocacy Practicum on active matters, helping these students become familiar with legal issues related to housing justice in upstate New York and to otherwise aid in their professional development.
The attorney will work collaboratively with the Veterans Law Staff Attorney and the Tenants Advocacy Practicum students, although they will not have any formal teaching responsibilities.
This position is ideal for a candidate who is eager to use their prior litigation and housing advocacy backgrounds to help prevent eviction and displacement in the upstate New York. It calls for someone entrepreneurial, who is willing to help shape a new model for the delivery of the Practicum and the Hotline's important services.
This grant funded appointment is for a two-year term and is benefits eligible. Reappointment for a third year is possible based on performance and funding availability. The selected candidate may choose to work a hybrid schedule, with part of the work taking place remotely (pending university approval if working outside New York State) and part of the work taking place in person. The selected candidate must be available and willing to return to Ithaca for any and all court appearances in-person for housing cases.
Responsibilities
- Develop partnerships with service providers across five counties (Tompkins, Tioga, Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler) and with Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. to close the gap in services for tenants facing eviction and homelessness.
- Collaborate with the Tenants Advocacy Supervising Attorney, the Veterans Law Staff Attorney, local housing attorneys, tenants unions, and advocacy groups to enhance the impact of the Practicum work, researching legal and factual questions, drafting research memos, working with clients and witnesses, drafting legal papers, presenting oral argument and counseling and training pro bono students and attorneys.
- Travel as required for litigation, conferences, speaking engagements and trips to each of the five counties the hotline covers.
Applicants must have a J.D. or equivalent, be admitted to the New York bar), and have a minimum of three years of relevant experience as a lawyer. Applicants should have excellent communication skills, both oral and written; excellent analytical skills; and the temperament to develop and work effectively with a network of tenants advocacy groups and legal aid organizations, private volunteer attorneys, and advocacy organizations. Applicants should also have the skills necessary to supervise and mentor law students and work collaboratively in a team-based environment. The applicant must also be a "self-starter" and have the ability to operate on their own, with light supervision.
Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in housing justice advocacy; supervising other lawyers or law students; have strong relationships with organizations that the Practicum is likely to partner with--local service providers, legal aid organizations, legal aid tech nonprofits, and tenants unions across the five counties.
To ensure maximum consideration, please submit all application materials by September 30, 2023. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants.
Pay Range:
$46,500.00 - $85,500.00
Pay Ranges:
The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:
Prior relevant work or industry experience.
Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
Unique applicable skills.
Employment Assistance:
Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.
Notice to Applicants:
EEO Statement:
Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.
Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.
2023-08-18
