Civil Action Practice Right to Counsel Housing Team ...
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 leader committed to public defense and housing rights to lead as the Director of our Housing Team.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 and creative 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 that we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.Holistic Defense and Enmeshed Civil ConsequencesOur Civil Action Practice provides comprehensive civil legal services to clients and their families by integrating civil representation with our Criminal, Family Defense, and Immigration Practices. Our goal is to minimize the severe and often unforeseen fallout from criminal, family, and immigration court proceedings and facilitate the seamless reintegration of the people we represent into the community. Civil Action Practice attorneys and legal advocates represent people in every forum in New York City - administrative, state, and federal - to address these problems and assist our clients in overcoming civil legal barriers to housing, eviction, employment, and public benefits, as well as addressing instances of police misconduct, criminal record errors, and civil forfeiture.Housing Justice and the Right to CounselReporting to the Managing Director of the Civil Action Practice, the Housing Team Director is responsible for leading our Right To Counsel (RTC) housing team; supervising housing attorneys, advocates, and other staff; and representing a reduced caseload of clients.Direct RepresentationAdvise, support and defend individuals navigating proceedings related to eviction, termination, barriers to obtaining housing and other housing-related proceedingsStaff Housing Court intake to provide representation to tenants in Housing CourtAdvise and represent the people we represent in intake with housing related issues Represent individuals in negotiations, administrative and judicial proceedings and trialsCollaborate with advocates, social workers and immigration, criminal and family defense attorneys, to assess and address housing needs of the people we represent and the Bronx communitySupport and staff the Community Housing HelplineParticipate in community training and public educationEnter and maintain accurate client data and files, information and notes regarding advocacy and representation in case management system Help identify the systemic problems that affect the people we represent while thinking creatively about new strategies and solutions for strategic changeDirect SupervisionMeet with each supervisee on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to evaluate and manage and support caseload, referrals, and client issuesReview, monitor, and evaluate data entry to ensure high-quality services, evaluate the impact of housing advocacy and meet funding requirements Review, and evaluate attorney, advocate, and paralegal workloads to ensure equitable workload distributionObserve, evaluate, and provide feedback on client-related advocacy, including written, oral, and trial advocacy in administrative fora, courts, and the communityWork to provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision, and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their workManage coverage for the RTC Housing TeamMonitor the ethical responsibilities in housing advocacy in conjunction with the Managing Director and CAP Supervisory TeamOnboard, train, and aid in the ongoing professional development of RTC housing team membersPromote and facilitate intra-practice and interdisciplinary collaboration among attorneys and non-attorney staffOrganize and lead housing team meetingsSupporting and Advancing the Growth of RTC Housing WorkManage intake and referral streams, and devise equitable systems and protocols to organize how we are retained by new clients and how we manage our client housing work for RTCOrganize and supervise community clinics, and other housing team-led effortsParticipate in meetings with the Office of Civil Justice, the Human Resource Administration, and other partners regarding our housing work and its expansionParticipate in campaigns, coalitions, and other working groups to inform RTC about housingConduct staff, community & partner housing trainings Work to advance housing policy, communications, organizing, and other strategic reform in collaboration with other practices and departments at BxDProgrammatic Reporting, Data Collection and Grants ManagementEnsure accurate and timely data entry for monthly, quarterly and annual housing grants reportingWork and meet with CAP’s Practice Associate on a regular basis to ensure timely submission of funding reports, compliance with funding requirements and deliverables and funding renewals Stay abreast of funder directed changes and initiatives, and adjust data collection accordinglyCreate systems for capturing data not collected in the BxD case management systemAssist with collecting referral, intake, community, and case data for housing reporting, fundraising, and policy initiativesCAP Management TeamMeet regularly with the Managing Director and CAP Supervisory TeamInform and implement practice priorities and improvements in collaboration with other supervisorsInform the direction of right to counsel in housing work and its growth at BxDWork to develop and implement housing-related information management systems, trainings, and other public education within the office and the communityTo be eligible, candidates must have:Membership in good standing to the New York State Bar or eligibility for admission to the New York State BarMinimum of 4 years of civil litigation experience, including at least two years specifically doing housing litigation workCandidates must demonstrate:Experience working in and with racially and ethnically marginalized communities of color targeted by systemic injusticeDedication to directly defending people ensnared in family, criminal, civil, and immigration legal systemsCommitment to fierce advocacy and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of clientsAbility to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate, and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities, and experiences Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment Meticulous attention to detailAbility to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstaclesStrong verbal and written advocacy skillsStrong analytical skills and capacity to explore non-legal resources and solutionsSupervisory and mentoring skills, includingInterest in and commitment to developing and mentoring superviseesAbility to provide intentional and constructive feedbackFlexibility in balancing the needs of supervisees against their own caseload Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordinglyAbility to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality around sensitive issuesCommitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional levelExperience supervising and training interns or staff is preferred, but not requiredThis is a hybrid position that will require 21 hours/week of in person work or more as needed by clients and staffSalary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 4-10 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $102,000-$123,000 or 20,000 above attorney 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, nonexempt 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 7, 2024, but will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please contact Runa Rajagopal, Managing Director of the Civil Action Practice, 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 are 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: 2024-09-11