Staff Attorney-Compliance, Chief Legal Office/General Counsel's Office

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy.  Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Position Overview:

The Staff Attorney, Compliance will be responsible for managing a variety of legal matters that support BUJ’s operations and general practice areas. Specific areas of focus include but are not limited to providing general legal research; developing/implementing policies and procedures; and researching and advising on risk management, compliance, litigation, governance, etc. The position will conduct routine audits of client case files, review court records and electronic filing systems, including NYSCEF, monitor case progression and closures, and assess compliance with organizational policies, professional obligations, and contractual performance objectives. Additional responsibilities include reviewing contracts, conducting legal research, supporting litigation and internal investigations, addressing client complaints, and undertaking special projects and other legal and compliance-related matters as assigned by the CLO.

Essential Job Functions:

Compliance

• In coordination with the CLO/GC, manage organization client complaint process to ensure all inquiries and complaints are investigated and documented according to policy and procedure;
• Oversee compliance across the organization, monitoring legal and regulatory obligations, developing policies and procedures, and identifying and escalating risks;
• Monitor team case management dashboard to ensure teams are working efficiently and timely and prepare reports and metrics as requested to support case management;
• Identify opportunities for potential impact/strategic litigation and advocacy and opportunities for co-counsel and/or collaboration with peer organizations and pro bono law firms;
• Manage relationships with outside counsel on litigation, investigations, and other disputes, coordinating strategy, discovery, case updates, and internal communications;
• Support, and where appropriate supervise, legal program staff on research, drafting, case strategy, and court or administrative appearances; provide litigation support and co-counseling as needed;
• Prepare compliance and progress reports using the case management system, ensuring timely case notes and documentation, and monitor the team’s case management dashboard to support efficient, compliant casework;
• Conduct routine audits of client case files across BUJNYC's legal practice units to ensure compliance with organizational policies, professional obligations, contractual requirements, and proper documentation within LegalServer, including case notes, client communications, deadlines, and case statuses;
• Review NYSCEF, eCourts, and other applicable court systems to monitor case progression, identify inactive or stagnant matters, missed deadlines, outstanding court directives, and other deficiencies requiring corrective action;
• Identify matters appropriate for closure and coordinate with responsible attorneys and program supervisors to ensure timely case dispositions, proper documentation, and compliance with organizational case closure procedures and contractual performance objectives;
• Develop and maintain standardized auditing procedures, prepare periodic compliance reports for the CLO identifying deficiencies and recommended corrective actions, and conduct follow-up reviews to ensure identified issues are appropriately addressed;
• Lead and manage special projects assigned by the CLO, from scoping and planning through execution and close-out, ensuring deliverables are met on time and within scope;
• Conduct research when assigned and synthesize findings into clear, actionable written reports, briefings, and recommendations for CLO review and decision-making;
• Identify opportunities to improve Legal team’s workflows, processes, and communications, and help design and implement solutions.

Legal Support Work

• Identify opportunities for improvement and streamline processes to improve compliance withing the case management system and engagement with clients; 
  
• Monitor team case management dashboard to ensure teams are working efficiently and timely and prepare reports and metrics as requested to support case management;
• Attend and provide assistance as requested for department and staff meetings, other administrative meetings, and events, including develop meeting agendas when the meetings are focused on policy and larger advocacy strategies and take notes for team memorializing decisions and action steps; 
  
• Provide general administrative duties to include scheduling, filing, drafting correspondence to external stakeholders and follow up from meetings and requests for the team;
  
• Provide additional litigation support, co-counseling and support to the probono and internship programs as needed; and
• Ensure CLO team is responding to internal/external requests for information and scheduling;  
  
• Provide research on legal topics, case law and other information as requested; and
• Perform additional legal, administrative, operational, compliance, and other related duties, special projects, and assignments as needed or as directed by the CLO to support the functions, responsibilities, and objectives of the CLO/GC Office and BUJNYC’s broader organizational needs.

How to apply:

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good fit for this role. This is a hybrid in-office/remote position based in Brooklyn, NY.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary $81,600 - $110,000 dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave. 

Build Up Justice NYC is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting a talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Build Up Justice NYC, diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff.

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.