Legal Affairs & Compliance Director

Company Overview:

Since 1968, Brooklyn A has provided free legal services for low- and moderate-income individuals and families throughout New York City. Our clients live in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods where many residents and small business owners have been displaced or are facing displacement and harassment. For over half a century, Brooklyn A has provided high-quality, low-barrier neighborhood-based legal services to individuals, families, nonprofit community-based organizations, community development corporations, coalitions, and small business owners, interested in developing and sustaining vibrant, healthy communities. Brooklyn A has three core departments Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH), Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA), and Community & Economic Development (CED)each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Position Summary:

The Legal Affairs and Compliance Director will collaborate across all teams to draft, interpret, implement, and provide guidance on legal policies and procedures. Reporting to the CLO, they will identify and help to develop potential litigation/policy issues or strategies; implement compliance initiatives and assist CLO and Executive Director on ethical determinations; and work with teams to identify and support staff professional development. The Director will also be responsible for management and growth of the organizations robust pro bono program.

The Director will primarily be responsible for:

• Design and implement ongoing legal training programs and workshops which shall include collaborating with experts, managing logistics, and ensuring the relevance and quality of learning content;
• Design courses, workshops and other trainings that could be used for CLE credits for internal and external stakeholders and that can also be used for co-sponsored CLE programs with bar associations and community partners;
• Manage the expansion of the pro bono referral program by identifying and cultivating law firms and other protentional volunteers/partners to maintain and grow stakeholder engagement;
• Develop, manage, implement, and evaluate the legal internship program ensuring meaningful opportunity that will benefit both the interns and Brooklyn A;
• Identify opportunities for improvement and streamline processes to improve compliance withing the case management system and engagement with clients;
• Draft and regularly update proprietary unit-specific manuals and handbooks, including model documents;
• Ensure resources are aligned with training objectives and legal standards;
• Manage credentialling/recredentialling throughout the organization to ensure staff maintain their licensing;
• Oversee case management system to ensure accurate and timely recording of case notes, data, and documentation ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory standards, and preparation of necessary compliance reports;
• Collaborate as needed with program managers and development team to write narrative text for applications and reports for grant and contracts; and
• Provide support in developing litigation strategies and co-counseling, contributing legal expertise and insights to enhance case outcomes and obtaining attorney fees across all teams.

A successful candidate will have:

• Admission to the bar of the State of New York or eligible for admission;
• Experience working as in-house counsel and corporate compliance experience;
• Minimum 7 years experience working in New York civil and/or Federal, or other relevant public interest litigation; housing law preferable;
• Minimum 7 years demonstrated commitment working with clients in the nonprofit sector, low-income communities, community organizations and/or coalitions;
• Minimum 5+ years experience transactional legal work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, local organizations with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret legal documents, technical procedures, rules or regulations and statues and case law;
• Excellent advocacy skills in English, bi-lingual Spanish preferred;
• Collaborative approach to work and a demonstrated capacity to lead and reach consensus with colleagues throughout the organization;
• Familiarity with the requirements of a multi-focus legal practice, and experience overseeing compliance with legal and ethical obligations;
• Exceptional written and oral advocacy skills, including the ability to address legal and other complex issues in clear, persuasive terms for a wide variety of audiences;
• Successful supervision of case management system to ensure accurate data collection and statistical tracking;
• Comfort working under tight timelines and navigating a variety of stakeholders and competing priorities and interests with grace and good humor, while ensuring quality and accountability; and
• Thorough commitment to Brooklyn As mission.

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary is $100,000-120,000 depending on years of experience. Great benefits package such as, employer paid health insurance; 27 days annual vacation, employer 4% contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave. This is a hybrid in-office/remote work position.

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 thisrole.

Brooklyn A is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Brooklyn A,diversityencompasses 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.