Staff Attorney - Government Benefits Unit

• →Assess potential clients for public benefits eligibility by conducting intake and interviewing Manhattan tenants at Housing Court who are referred to MLS through the right-to-counsel initiative in NYC housing courts
• →Advocate with administrative agencies to challenge denials, reductions, or terminations of public benefits
• →Conduct community education and outreach
• →Engage in case advocacy, including housing subsidy applications, public assistance applications, and administrative hearings
• →Direct representation of clients in administrative proceedings, Civil Court, Supreme Court, and federal court

• At least 2 years of experience as a legal services attorney, including public benefits, Medicaid, or housing benefits work
• Experience and expertise in One-Shot Deals, SNAP, Medicaid and other public benefits
• Demonstrated communication habits that are consistently prompt and highly responsive
• Collaborative orientation, capacity to work in a team, and solution-oriented approach
• Strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
• Experience working with underserved communities
• Strong cultural or personal ties to the communities we serve
• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York Bar
• Proficiency in a language other than English and Spanish is preferred

Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Manhattan Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to race, gender, and economic justice in our work and within our workplace. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people over 40.

All employees are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations unless exempt for medical or religious reasons.