Family Defense Practice Supervising Attorney

The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an experienced Family Defense Attorney to work as a Supervising Attorney in our Family Defense Practice (FDP).

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 regulation, 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 we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

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 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 primarily litigate abuse and neglect cases, but occasionally appear in concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights.

Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Managing Director of the Family Defense Practice, the FDP Supervising Attorney will represent a reduced caseload while providing direct supervision, support, and guidance to staff attorneys. Supervisors will act as a liaison between court staff—including judges, clerks, 18-b attorneys, Legal Aid Society, and Family Court Legal Services—and BxD attorneys while assisting with Family Defense Practice programming, development and training.

We’re currently hiring for a supervisor who will supervise attorneys at various levels of experience including law graduates in their first legal position after law school, which will require intensive training, supervision, and mentoring.

Direct Representation

• Represent a reduced number of people in Article 10 and related family court matters
• Staff a reduced number of intake shifts
• Supervise intake shifts
• Model best practices with the court, the people we defend, colleagues, and adversaries

Direct Supervision

• Supervise 2-5 Family Defense Practice attorneys
• Conference cases with supervisees regularly to determine litigation strategy and ensure high-quality representation with the goal of reunifying families as quickly as possible
• Evaluate supervisees’ referrals to ensure holistic, client-centered representation
• Observe supervisees’ in-court advocacy and provide timely and constructive feedback
• Assist with and review litigation preparation
• Co-counsel and supervise litigation
• Monitor caseloads to ensure equitable distribution among supervisees
• Manage BxD case management and data entry to ensure supervisees’ cases are kept up to date and accurate
• Assist in arranging coverage of cases
• Approve time-off requests and timesheets
• Evaluate case and calendar management, direct representation, and relationships with the judiciary and adversaries in the courthouse
• Encourage and evaluate supervisees’ collaboration and support of their colleagues through case conferencing, coverage, etc.
• Encourage and support the professional development of supervisees
• Facilitate ongoing trainings and mentorship for attorneys, interns and advocates, providing ongoing feedback and evaluation, and ensuring effective collaboration between all members of the legal team
• Provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their work
• Support supervisees in meeting the expectations of their job responsibilities and notify the Deputy Director when additional support is necessary
• Evaluate performance and provide constructive feedback to supervisees, aiding them in their professional development and growth in the role

Liaison in the Courthouse

• Be available as a point of contact for the judiciary and adversaries while representing the interests of and advocating on behalf of supervisees and the people we represent

Communicate and Collaborate with Supervisors, Team Leaders and Managing Directors

• Participate in Family Defense Practice supervisor meetings
• Work with other supervising attorneys and the Managing Director to coordinate and assist with adequate supervision coverage of staff attorneys, including in-court supervision
• Assist in the development of best practices, new trainings, projects and initiatives in the Family Defense Practice
• Assist with internal and external trainings and breakout sessions for FDP advocates, BxD staff, and external partners
• Advance holistic advocacy on the team and in the office
• Demonstrate a commitment to anti-oppression work in and outside the office

Responsibilities Specific to Training Law Graduates

• Provide close, consistent and direct in-court supervision
• Conduct case conferences at least weekly for first-year attorneys
• Review and sign off on all written work of attorneys until they’re admitted to the Bar
• Work with practice and litigation supervisors to update, plan, and execute Training Team’s intensive orientation and training program and weekly trainings
• Supervise admission of law graduates to the bar as expediently as possible

Training and Development

• Develop ongoing trainings and mentorship for attorneys, interns, and advocates, providing ongoing feedback and evaluation, and ensuring effective collaboration between all members of the legal team
• Collaborate with the Training Directors in FDP to implement cross-practice training relevant to scope of work for new staff, advocates and interns
• Assist in the development of best practices, new trainings, projects and initiatives in the Family Defense Practice
• Facilitate internal and external trainings, including trainings for BxD advocates, attorneys, interns, and external partners
• Maintain a system to track the outcomes achieved in cases
• Maintain in-house resources including, but not limited to, research articles, expert lists, sample court orders and stipulations, model motions, reply briefs and other materials related to custody, visitation, paternity, guardianship and family offense cases
• Advance holistic advocacy on the team and in the office through fielding internal referrals across the office
• Demonstrate a commitment to anti-oppression work in the practice and office

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• Minimum of 3 years of practice as an attorney representing parents charged of abuse and neglect
• Ability to practice in New York or ability to practice pro hac vice until they are admitted to the New York State Bar Association

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Commitment to holistic, client-centered representation of parents charged with abuse/neglect of their children and at risk of losing custody
• Understanding of how systemic oppression affects marginalized communities and their experience in the family regulation and criminal legal system
• 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 within an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers
• Effective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skills
• Strong analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources in cases
• Supervisory and mentoring skills, including
  • Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring supervisees
  • Ability to provide intentional and constructive feedback
  • Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseload
• Ability to thoughtfully navigate conflict between supervisees and the people we represent, colleagues, adversaries, and court actors
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
• 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

This is an in-person position subject to the organization’s hybrid work policies.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 3-10 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $96,400-$121,240. 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.