Civil Legal Advocate

The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate advocate with a commitment to social justice to fill a position as a Civil Legal Advocate in our Civil Action 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 that we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Civil Action Practice

Our Civil Action Practice (CAP) provides comprehensive legal services to the people we represent and their families by fully integrating civil representation with our criminal, immigration, and family defense practices. Our goal is to minimize the severe and often unforeseen fallout from legal system involvement and facilitate the seamless reintegration of the people we represent into their communities.

Our 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 provide comprehensive representation to assist people 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.

Responsibilities

The Civil Legal Advocate will be a part of a collaborative interdisciplinary defense team of attorneys, social workers and other advocates providing client-centered, holistic representation. They will carry a caseload and respond to referrals from the criminal, family, immigration and civil action practices.

• Interview and correspond with clients to learn about the civil legal problems they’re facing and provide client-centered advocacy and support
• Conduct research and fact investigations into the civil legal problems our clients routinely face to know how to best assist them
• Collaborate with and support attorneys, social workers and other referring advocates in the course of advocacy, litigation and settlement of legal matters for our clients
• Provide information, services, advocacy and representation in various administrative fora and other settings including, but not limited to:
  • Advocating for the return of property seized by police and prosecutors to our clients
  • Helping clients apply for, access and defend against the denial of public and disability benefits
  • Advocating to prevent eviction and homelessness, and enhance access to the shelter system
  • Preserving our clients’ rights as it pertains to police misconduct
  • Correcting criminal records errors and helping clients gain access to tools for reentry and reintegration
  • Assisting with accessing vital records and documents, such as birth certificates and identification cards
• Enter and update client information and advocacy in case management system
• Prepare communications and documents for correspondence with the people we represent, adversaries and agencies
• Assist in developing educational and outreach materials for internal and external audiences
• Support, help plan and participate in staff training, community education and clinics
• Support and participate in pipelines, including intern trainings, supervision and mentorship
• Help identify systemic problems that affect our clients while thinking creatively about strategies and solutions to alleviate and eliminate them
• Support initiatives related to policy, communications, legislation, organizing, and system reform advocacy

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• Minimum of one year of case management/advocacy experience

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Commitment to directly defending people ensnared in criminal, family, civil and immigration legal systems
• Experience working in and with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers
• Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent
• Strong written and verbal advocacy skills
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique problems
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level
• Spanish fluency is strongly preferred, but not required

This is a primarily in-person position.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 1-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $57,625 to $62,867. 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 within the bargaining unit.

This position is non-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.