Tenant Defense Paralegal Req- 4288

Organization Overview:

BronxWorks helps individuals and families improve their economic and social well-being. From toddlers to seniors, we feed, shelter, teach, and support our neighbors to build a stronger Bronx community. In all aspects of our work, BronxWorks strives for the highest ethical and performance standards. We are guided by the belief that people must be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their present situation or past experiences. We have over 65 locations throughout the Bronx providing a variety of programs that assist in the areas of family, children and youth support, educational services, senior services, homelessness, financial empowerment, and workforce development, among others. With over 50 years of experience supporting Bronx communities, we are an employer of choice for anyone interested in a meaningful career in the social services field.

BronxWorks Legal Services – Tenant Defense Program:

The BronxWorks model aims to break the cycle of poverty by mobilizing the organization’s extensive resources to apply a holistic and progressive approach, helping individuals and families transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. A crucial component of this continuum of support is BronxWorks Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to those seeking immigration stability, facing eviction, and surviving domestic violence and other crimes. Within BronxWorks Legal Services, the Tenant Defense Program plays a vital role in securing housing stability by representing low-income tenants in eviction proceedings and advocating for essential public benefits to preserve affordable housing. The program supports New York City’s groundbreaking Universal Access to Counsel initiative, which ensures low-income tenants the right to full legal representation in eviction proceedings.

Paralegal Opportunity

BronxWorks seeks paralegals eager to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting and zealously advance creative strategies to help vulnerable clients avoid eviction and remain in their homes. Each paralegal will support a team of staff attorneys, reporting to the team’s supervising attorney, and will also provide direct client advocacy. The role involves supporting case administration, advocating for clients at administrative hearings and proceedings, assisting clients to access and retain benefits and subsidies, providing research and investigative support, drafting legal documents, and providing general administrative support. The Tenant Defense Program offers an excellent opportunity to launch or grow a public interest career, hone paralegal and case management skills, and meaningfully contribute to efforts to prevent displacement of Bronx communities.

Support Case Administration

• Conduct and assist with client eligibility screenings and intakes, entering information into the case management system. Collect required and relevant documentation, following up with clients as needed. Assess case status and category, and identify issues, claims, and defenses. Escalate time-sensitive and emergency legal issues to supervisory staff.
• Open, close, and maintain client files in electronic and hardcopy filing and data systems. Assist with data entry.
• Enter and maintain team case assignments in the database. Maintain an updated and accurate master court calendar for the team.
• Coordinate follow-up services including appointments, referrals, and client correspondence.
• Assist with electronic court filing as well as courthouse hard copy filings and document retrieval. Serve papers on other parties.
• Assist attorneys to prepare for court by organizing exhibits and assisting with other tasks as needed.
• Pick up and deliver checks from agencies and charities.
• Deliver or direct delivery of subpoenas to witnesses and parties to action.
• Coordinate and confirm deposition schedules with other parties.
• May provide oral and written assistance interpreting, translating, and using language assistance resources for non-English speaking clients.

Client Advocacy and Application Assistance

• Under attorney supervision, communicate case information to clients.
• Assist clients in applying for and securing housing subsidies and public benefits, such as emergency rent arrears assistance, FHEPS, CityFHEPS, cash assistance, SNAP/Food Stamps, WIC, and HASA benefits.
• Serve as client liaison/advocate to coordinate with internal and external programs and agencies to ensure timely and integrated service delivery.
• Assess client needs and make referrals to appropriate services both within and outside BronxWorks.
• Analyze rent-stabilized client rent amounts and advocate to correct unlawful rents.
• May assist clients in completing applications for fair hearings and other administrative proceedings.
• May represent clients as housing advocate in administrative agency proceedings and hearings, such as before HRA, HCR, or HPD, including to challenge denials, reductions, or terminations of public benefits and housing subsidies, and including in NYCHA termination of tenancy proceedings.
• Assist attorneys at court and administrative proceedings.

Provide Research, Investigative, and Drafting Support

• Under attorney supervision, research legal sources and procedural requirements.
• Under attorney supervision, draft documents such as subpoenas, letters of advocacy, affidavits, stipulations, orders to show cause, motions, petitions, and forms for administrative hearings.
• Investigate case facts, interview clients and witnesses, collect documents, and assist in developing case strategies.

Support Program Administration

• Provide general administrative and clerical support and cover duties for other program support personnel as needed.
• Prepare reports on client and services information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Associate degree and two years applicable experience or bachelor’s degree.
• Excellent research, oral and written communication, and analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail and concern for quality and accuracy.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills. Able to effectively communicate and build trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds, external resource providers, and people experiencing crisis.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills including the ability to manage a diverse and fast-paced caseload, multi-task, and produce quality work on tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Sharepoint, and other standard business technology, including electronic case management and communication systems.
• Must be able to work effectively within a team structure as well as independently.

Preferred Qualifications & Plus Factors

• Verbal and written proficiency in a language other than English, especially Spanish or another language commonly spoken by Bronx residents.
• Prior professional experience assisting clients with housing subsidy applications, such as emergency rent arrears assistance, FHEPS, CityFHEPS. Prior professional experience with public benefits assistance and advocacy.
• Prior paralegal experience in a litigation practice.
• Paralegal certificate.
• Higher salary range is reserved for applicants with a Paralegal Certificate and at least 5 years of experience in Housing Legal Services
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice and working in with low-income and vulnerable populations and communities of color to advance equity.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to use a computer for prolonged periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, or sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to climb five flights of stairs, if required to conduct home visits and/or fieldwork.
• Ability to travel in the boroughs of New York City and its adjacent counties via public transportation.
• Ability to travel for a minimum of 1 mile within a reasonable amount of time and in all types of weather, including inclement weather, if required to conduct home visits and/or field work.

BronxWorks Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

BronxWorks seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity

BronxWorks is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. This commitment applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and employee development, placement, promotion, demotion, upgrading, downgrading, transfer, layoff, and termination. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process, please contact hrbenefits@bronxworks.org.