Bronx Conflicts Supervising Attorney, Family Defense Practice

Overview

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office located in Harlem, providing the highest quality representation in criminal, civil, immigration and family courts to residents of Northern Manhattan and the Bronx who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. NDS clients are represented by multidisciplinary teams including attorneys, advocates, team administrators and social workers. NDS is accepting applications for a Supervising Attorney within our Bronx Conflicts Family Defense Practice. 

 Overview

The Family Defense Practice at NDS represents parents in family policing cases (sometimes called “child welfare” cases) filed by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) as well as related family court cases, including custody, visitation and termination of parental rights proceedings.  Through our holistic approach to representation, the Family Defense Practice provides parents with the help they need—both inside and outside of court—to keep their families safe and stable. Parents are represented not only by a high-quality attorney, but also social workers, team administrators, and parent advocates.  NDS is committed to advancing due process rights for parents by fighting unwarranted state intervention in their lives and advocating for related systemic change.  The Supervising Attorney will manage a team which represents parents in family policing and related family court cases.

Responsibilities

• Provide client-centered representation on a modest caseload with excellence, energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and holistic advocacy throughout the case;
• Supervise a team of attorneys in providing excellent, client-centered, holistic representation to low- and no-income parents and care takers, both respondent and non-respondent, in Article 10 and related cases filed in Bronx Family Court, virtually and in person;
• Train and supervise staff, including staff attorneys, social workers, and team administrators;
• Work with other supervising staff to strengthen the structure of the Bronx Conflicts Team;
• Engage with agencies, court officials, and other stakeholders regarding NDS representation in the Bronx;
• Travel regularly to the satellite office in the South Bronx and to Bronx Family Court and occasionally to the Central Office in Harlem.

Qualifications

• At least five years of experience as an attorney, preferably as a family defense attorney;
• A demonstrated commitment to public defense, social justice and or the communities served by NDS;
• A demonstrated track record of client-centered representation and excellence in the profession;
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills and be able to multitask in a fast-paced environment;
• Must be able to work cooperatively in a team setting;
• Must possess a strong ability to communicate clearly and effectively through writing;
• Must possess active listening skills and ability to give and receive constructive feedback;
• Must be flexible about work location and be able to split time between satellite office and court in the South Bronx and NDS’s main office in Central Harlem;
• Lived experience with family policing or other systems impacting NDS’s clients strongly preferred;
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred.

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. For this position, the salary range for 5-10 years of experience is $96,000 to $119,000. Full medical and dental benefits, as well as other benefits, are provided.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Myranda Mendez with the subject line, “NDS FDP Bronx Conflicts Supervising Attorney” no later than November 26, 2023. Please send your application as one document, preferably PDF. For more information about NDS, please visit our website at www.neighborhooddefender.org.

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people to apply.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NDS we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Min

Max

Salary : $96,000 - $119,000