The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks passionate law graduates and entry-level attorneys with a commitment to public defense to join our Family Defense, Criminal Defense, Civil Action, and Immigration Defense Practices beginning Fall 2023.

Overview

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 represent.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, child welfare, 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 transformation at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the clients and communities that we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Entry-level attorneys will receive several weeks of intensive, interdisciplinary training on holistic representation, substantive relevant law, research and writing, litigation skills, client and community engagement, analysis of oppressive systems, and their impact on the marginalized communities we work with. Beyond this training period, staff will participate in both practice and non-practice-specific training to sharpen their advocacy skills, raise their cultural consciousness, and enhance their collaboration with clients and colleagues.

Responsibilities

Criminal Defense Practice

The Criminal Defense Practice (CDP) at The Bronx Defenders is composed of over 150 attorneys, investigators, social workers, practice associates, and administrators who provide comprehensive criminal defense representation to people in the Bronx facing police and criminal legal system involvement. They appear in various proceedings including but not limited to arraignments, hearings, and trials in criminal courts, as well as concurrent proceedings such as the Superintendent’s suspension and Department of Motor Vehicle refusal hearings. CDP attorneys collaborate with advocates and administrators on interdisciplinary holistic teams to identify and address issues that contribute to our client’s ensnarement in the criminal legal system and the enmeshed consequences that arise out of their contact with the system. Through a client-centered approach, our CDP attorneys strive to gain a deeper understanding of our clients’ circumstances and priorities. Armed with that understanding, they fight for our client’s desired outcomes by strategically raising personalized, persuasive arguments in mitigation, negotiations, and litigation.

Responsibilities

Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiations as part of legal representation
Zealously advocate for individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses in Bronx Criminal Court from the time of arraignment through disposition or trial, as well as concurrent proceedings such as Department of Motor Vehicle refusal hearings
Provide comprehensive, team-based representation collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of attorneys and advocates to avoid or mitigate any further legal system involvement or civil consequences that may arise out of clients' contact with the criminal court system
Effectively litigate, confidently negotiate and skillfully advocate with judges, prosecutors, and other actors within the systems our clients navigate, including having the opportunity to co-counsel cases in other venues (i.e. Family Court, Civil Court, Administrative Hearings, etc.) as necessary or desired
Participate in holistic advocacy within the practice and in the office
Maintain client case files and data in BxD’s case management system

Family Defense Practice

The Bronx Defenders Family Defense Practice (FDP) provides legal representation and social work support to parents charged with child abuse and neglect, and who are at risk of losing custody of their children. Family Defense Attorneys at The Bronx Defenders are at the forefront of a movement to provide holistic, institutional representation to parents whose parental rights are in peril in Bronx County Family Court while creating long-term solutions for the reunification and stability of families. Family Defense Attorneys will primarily litigate abuse and neglect cases, but will occasionally appear in concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights cases.

Responsibilities

Zealously represent parents in child protective proceedings in Bronx Family Court and any concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights cases
Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiations as part of legal representation
Litigate legal matters in abuse and neglect proceedings in hearings and trials in family court - orally and in writing
Assist parents in accessing appropriate resources and services to restore full parental rights
Work closely with social workers and parent advocates as part of our clients’ representation, and collaborate with criminal defense, civil and immigration attorneys, and advocates on enmeshed issues that arise in other venues (e.g. Civil Court, Criminal Court, Administrative Hearings, etc.)
Effectively communicate and negotiate with judges, caseworkers, child attorneys, and representatives of the Administration for Children’s Services on behalf of parents
Maintain client case files and data in BxD’s case management system

Immigration Practice

Over a decade ago, The Bronx Defenders initiated the model of integrated criminal defense and immigration representation. Our attorneys work closely with clients and their advocates throughout the pendency of their cases in both criminal and family court to avoid or mitigate negative immigration consequences. Immigration attorneys represent clients in deportation proceedings in both detained and non-detained settings, provide affirmative immigration services, and pursue community-based systemic litigation and advocacy challenging unforgiving federal immigration laws. Since November 2013, our Immigration Attorneys have also worked as assigned counsel at the Varick Street Immigration Court under the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP), the first-ever universal representation project in immigration court.

Responsibilities

Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiations as part of legal representation
Advise non-citizens accused of crimes on the immigration consequences of contemplated dispositions and mitigate the impact of their involvement with the legal system
Represent non-citizens on applications for immigration benefits, including citizenship, adjustment of status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and remedies for victims of crimes
Represent both detained and non-detained non-citizens who face deportation in official removal proceedings
Represent clients before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Immigration Court on the full scope of matters relating to removal cases, such as bond hearings, challenges to removability, applications for relief (including, but not limited to requests for Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Deferral of Removal under the Convention Against Torture Protection, Adjustment of Status with Waivers of Inadmissibility, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) and Non-LPR Cancellation of Removal, Special Immigration Juvenile Status, and U & T visas)
Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals
Effectively litigate, confidently negotiate and skillfully advocate with adversaries within the systems our clients navigate, including having the opportunity to co-counsel cases in other venues (i.e. Family Court, Civil Court, Administrative Hearings, etc.) as necessary or desired
Provide comprehensive, team-based representation collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of attorneys and advocates to avoid or mitigate any further legal system involvement or civil consequences that may arise out of clients' contact with the immigration court system
Maintain client case files and data in BxD’s case management system

Additional qualifications specific to the Immigration Practice:

A valid driver’s license--or the ability to obtain one--is required as the role sometimes requires travel to detention facilities outside of NYC where clients are held. Vehicles are provided.
We are specifically seeking applications from candidates with Spanish language skills and/or those from racially and ethnically marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by the immigration system, whose lived experiences contribute to more culturally conscious client representation

Civil Action Practice (CAP)

Our Civil Action Practice provides comprehensive legal services to our clients and their families by fully integrating civil representation with our Criminal, Family, Immigration Practices. Our goal is to minimize the severe and often unforeseen fallout from Criminal and Family Court proceedings while facilitating the reintegration of our clients into their communities. Our Civil Action Practice attorneys and legal advocates represent our clients in every forum in New York City—administrative, state, and federal—to address these problems. Civil attorneys and advocates assist our clients in overcoming civil legal barriers to housing, eviction, employment, and public benefits, as well as address instances of police misconduct, criminal record errors, and civil forfeiture.

Responsibilities

Advise, support and defend individuals navigating housing court and other housing-related proceedings
Defend individuals navigating proceedings related to eviction, termination and barriers to obtaining housing.
Staff Housing Court intake to provide representation to tenants in Housing Court
Advise and represent intake clients with housing related issues
Collaborate with immigration, criminal and family defense attorneys, advocates and social workers to assess and address client and community member housing needs.
Represent individuals in negotiations, administrative and judicial proceedings and trials
Staff Community Housing Helpline
Participate in community training and public education
Enter 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 clients while thinking creatively about new strategies and solutions for strategic change

Qualifications

To be eligible, applicants must be:

A third-year (3L) student or a recent graduate of an American Bar Association-accredited law school, or
An attorney having less than three (3) years of relevant legal practice

Applicants must demonstrate:

Experience working in and with racially and ethnically marginalized communities of color targeted by systemic injustice
Commitment to challenging systemic injustice and carceral systems
Commitment to directly defending people ensnared in family, criminal, civil, and immigration legal systems
Effective research, writing, and courtroom advocacy skills
Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings
Effective judgment in zealous advocacy and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of clients
Strong legal analytical skills
Thoughtfulness in engaging non-legal resources to support clients
Strong communication and active listening skills
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with lawyers and non-lawyers alike from various practice areas in an interdisciplinary team-based environment
Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
Meticulous attention to detail
Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from various backgrounds and experiences
Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly
Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality around sensitive issues
Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

If hired, applicants must:

Sit for the New York State Bar Examination, or
Submit the appropriate materials necessary for Pro Hac Vice admission or waiver