Family Defense Practice Early Defense 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 family defense attorney to join our Early Defense 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, 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 level. 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 mainly litigate abuse and neglect cases but occasionally appear in concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights.Early Defense Team Family Defense The Bronx Defenders maintains a robust Legal Support Hotline that allows residents of the Bronx who need representation in family matters to receive immediate assistance. In the Early Defense Practice (EDP), our intake team assists community members who are being investigated by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), invited to a child safety conference, directed to take their children to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC), asked to report to Family Court, and who need representation at the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to have their ACS records sealed within the New York State Central Registry (SCR). The Early Defense Team Family Defense Attorney is responsible for representing community intake clients seeking assistance with family defense matters. The Family Defense Attorney will represent a reduced caseload of clients in the Family Defense Practice. Additionally, they are responsible for case and file management within the Early Defense Team and collecting data to be included in reports to funders for Early Defense. The Family Defense Attorney is also expected to conduct Know Your Rights trainings about the Family Regulation System with other members of the Early Defense Team.Community RepresentationProvide legal expertise for the FDP Early Defense Team as they respond to calls and walk-ins by parents in need of assistance with ACS investigationsCollaborate with the Early Defense Team to provide client-centered legal advice and representation to parents during family regulation system investigations Regularly review and manage all FDP EDP client cases and provide legal counsel where EDP advocate is the primary supportEquip Early Defense clients with the information necessary to make informed decisions during an ACS investigationCo-counsel cases for Early Defense clientsCarry a reduced caseload of FDP clients, the majority of which will be from Early Defense Provide legal advice and representation to parents seeking assistance in Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) hearings Conduct conflict checks on Early Defense mattersTechnical Assistance and SupportPrepare and present internal and external training related to Early Defense representation, OCFS hearings, and family regulation system investigationsCoordinate with Early Defense Team members on cross-practice issues such as referral protocols, directing hotline calls, and conflict checks Staff the Early Defense Hotline and directs messages and calls to appropriate advocates in anticipation of ACS conferences and court filingsData Tracking and ReportingMaintain accurate and current Early Defense cases in BxD Case Management System Track case data using hashtags and other designated systems to share with court and city stakeholders Assist the Managing Directors of the Family Defense Practice and Social Work with compiling data and drafting reports for funders regarding the efficacy of early defense and OCFS representationTo be eligible, candidates must have:At least two years of practice as a Family Defense AttorneyCandidates must demonstrate:Commitment to directly defending people ensnared in family, criminal, civil and immigration legal systemsAbility to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiencesAbility to work well independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyersAbility to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environmentMeticulous attention to detailCommitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of clientsEffective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skillsStrong analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources in casesAbility 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 levelSpanish language proficiency is a plus, but not requiredThis is a primarily in-person position. Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 1-10 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $80,000-$103,000. For internal candidates, this position will come with a $5,000 increase applied to 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; 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 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. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized on your resume. If selected for the position, your resume will be used to determine your salary based on your number of years of directly relevant professional experience; 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 15, 2024. Please contact Michael White, Family Defense Practice Supervising 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: 2024-09-20