Family Defense Practice Custody Supervising Attorney
The Bronx Defenders - Bronx, NY
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The Bronx Defenders (BxD) - an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx - seeks a passionate attorney with a commitment to public defense to join our Family Defense Practice.The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally-recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend. Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change. Family Defense PracticeThe Bronx Defenders’ Family Defense Practice (FDP) provides legal representation and social work support to parents charged with child abuse and neglect who are at risk of losing custody of their children. Our Family Defense Practice is at the forefront of a movement to provide holistic representation to parents in the Bronx while creating long-term solutions for the reunification and stability of families. Family Defense Practice Attorneys primarily litigate abuse and neglect cases, but occasionally appear in concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights.Reporting to the Managing Director of the Family Defense Practice, the Custody Supervising Attorney will represent a reduced caseload of clients while providing direct supervision to attorneys at various levels of experience and assisting in the litigation of Family Court Articles 5, 6 and 8 cases including matters of custody, visitation, family offense, guardianship and paternity. Supervisors will be responsible for acting as a liaison between court staff, judges, clerks, 18-b attorneys, The Legal Aid Society, Family Court Legal Services and BxD attorneys while assisting with Family Defense Practice programming, development and training.Direct RepresentationRepresent a reduced number of clients in Bronx Family Court in custody, visitation, paternity, guardianship and family offense petitions stemming from either Article 10 filings or internal referrals from other practice areasSupervise and staff a reduced number of intake shifts Model best practices with the court, clients, colleagues, and adversariesAssist parents in accessing appropriate resources and services to restore or maintain custodial rightsDirect SupervisionSupervise 2-5 Family Defense Practice attorneysSchedule individual supervision on a regular basis with supervisees to evaluate workload, monitor referrals, and conference casesConference cases with supervisees regularly to determine litigation strategies and ensure high-quality representation with the goal of reunifying families as quickly as possibleEvaluate supervisees’ referrals for holistic representation and provide feedback on how to ensure effective client-centered collaborationReview written work of attorneys, including signing off on all written work until the attorney is admitted to the Bar if they are not yet admitted Observe supervisees’ in-court advocacy and provide timely and constructive feedbackAssist with and review litigation preparationCo-counsel and supervise litigation where necessaryMonitor caseloads to ensure equitable distribution among superviseesOversee case management and data entry to ensure cases and corresponding files are kept up to date and accurateAssist in arranging coverage of cases Approve time-off requests and timesheetsEvaluate case and calendar management, direct representation, and relationships with the judiciary and adversaries in the courthouseEncourage and evaluate supervisees’ collaboration and support of their colleagues through practices like case conferencing and coverage Encourage and support the professional development of supervisees Provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their work Support supervisees in meeting the expectations of their job responsibilities and notify the Deputy Director when additional support is necessary Evaluate performance and provide constructive feedback to supervisees, aiding them in their professional development and growth in the roleServe as a Liaison in the CourthouseBe available as a point of contact for the judiciary and adversariesRepresent the interests of and advocate on behalf of supervisees and the people we represent with the judiciary and adversariesCommunicate and Collaborate with Supervisors, Team Leaders and Managing DirectorsParticipate in Family Defense Practice supervisor meetingsWork with other supervising attorneys and the Managing Director to coordinate and assist with adequate supervision coverage of staff attorneys, including in-court supervisionTraining and DevelopmentDevelop ongoing trainings and mentorship for attorneys, interns, and advocates, providing ongoing feedback and evaluation, and ensuring effective collaboration between all members of the legal team Collaborate with the Training Directors in FDP to implement cross-practice training relevant to scope of work for new staff, advocates and internsAssist in the development of best practices, new trainings, projects and initiatives in the Family Defense PracticeFacilitate internal and external trainings, including trainings for BxD advocates, attorneys, interns, and external partnersMaintain a system to track the outcomes achieved in cases Maintain in-house resources including, but not limited to, research articles, expert lists, sample court orders and stipulations, model motions, reply briefs and other materials related to custody, visitation, paternity, guardianship and family offense casesAdvance holistic advocacy on the team and in the office through fielding internal referrals across the officeDemonstrate a commitment to anti-oppression work in the practice and office To be eligible, applicant must have:Ability to practice in New York or ability to practice pro hac vice until they are admitted to the New York State Bar AssociationMinimum of three years of experience as an attorney in family law or related fieldApplicants must demonstrate:Commitment to holistic, client-centered representation and working collaboratively in interdisciplinary teamsUnderstanding of how systemic oppression affects marginalized communities and their experience in the family regulation and criminal legal systemExperience working in and with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communitiesAbility to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiencesAbility to work well independently as well as collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyersEffective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skillsCommitment to fierce advocacy and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we representStrong analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources in casesSupervisory and mentoring skills, including:Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring supervisees Ability to provide intentional and constructive feedbackFlexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseloadAbility to thoughtfully navigate conflict between supervisees and the people we represent, colleagues, adversaries, and court actorsAbility to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environmentMeticulous attention to detailAbility to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstaclesAbility to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordinglyAbility to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive mattersCommitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional levelPreferred, but not required:Spanish language proficiency Supervisory experienceThis is a hybrid position that will require at least 21 hours/week of in-person work, subject to union terms. Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 3-10 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $96,400-121,240 or $10,000 above the attorney salary scale. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended. Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.This position is exempt. By law, non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document. If you would prefer to send in a video or audio statement in lieu of a cover letter, you may upload your resume as a document and separately upload a video or audio statement instead of a cover letter. Your cover letter or video/audio statement should share why you want to do this work at our office, some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position, and any additional information you would like for us to consider. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized on your resume. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. If selected for the position, your resume will be used to determine your salary based on the number of years of directly relevant professional experience listed; we therefore encourage you to ensure your resume is up to date. Please remember that you may submit a written cover letter or an audio/video statement, but not both, and applications without either will not be considered. Applications will be accepted through October 3, 2024. Please contact Janae Weh, Family Defense Practice Staff Attorney, via email at any questions regarding the position.The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating an anti-oppressive workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent, and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we work with.
Created: 2024-09-09