Overview
Spanish/English Immigration Paralegal/attorney Jobs in New York, NY at Brandes & Associates
Overview:
The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an experienced Family Defense Attorney with a commitment to social justice to work as the Legal Director of our Family Defense 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 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 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 Legal Director will work closely with legal staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality, zealous, and ethical legal representation for parents in Article 10 and related proceedings including custody, visitation, family offense, paternity, and termination of parental rights cases. The Legal Director will work with FDP leadership to identify legal priorities and creative ways to increase due process protections and improve legal representation for parents at risk of losing custody of their children. Responsibilities include:
Direct Representation
Zealously represent a reduced number of parents and caregivers in Article 10
Litigate legal matters in abuse and neglect and related proceedings in hearings and trials in family court – orally and in writing
Effectively communicate and negotiate with judges, caseworkers, attorneys for the child(ren), and representatives of the Administration for Children’s Services on behalf of parents
Assist parents in accessing appropriate resources and services to restore full parental rights
Collaborate with social workers and parent advocates in the Family Defense Practice, as well as attorneys and advocates in the criminal defense, civil action and immigration practice on enmeshed issues that arise in other venues
Collaborate to provide co-counseling and coverage for cases to ensure that all client needs are met
Maintain client case files and data in BxD’s case management system
Provide mentorship and co-counsel support to the attorneys in the family defense practice
Supervise and train interns and externs
Litigation Support
Mentor, support, and direct legal representation for parents in the family defense practice
Be an available and approachable resource to attorneys/advocates for legal questions as they arise in their cases
Provide direction on litigating novel legal questions
Draft model motions on complex legal issues
Draft practice guidance and litigation tool kits for attorneys regarding complex legal and practice issues
Appear in court with attorneys litigating complex cases or novel legal issues
Act as a liaison between the legal practice and the Family Court regarding legal and practice issues
Host weekly in-person office hours to answer questions, case conference, and advise on complex legal issues and challenging cases
Identify and supervise Article 78 challenges in Office for Children and Family Services (OCFS) and Article 10 cases
Collaborate with FDP’s Appellate Director by reviewing and approving cases for appeal, reviewing appellate briefs, and assisting with preparation for oral argument
Training and Hiring
Partner with FDP Training Directors to develop internal and external training materials on legal issues for attorneys and advocates of every practice level
Maintain tools for sharing best practices and preserving institutional knowledge, including FDP Sharepoint and Patricia
Work with FDP Managing Director and supervisors to plan and execute continuing legal education for current staff
Moot attorneys on in-court litigation
Participate in hiring and recruitment as necessary
Legal Practice Supervision
Supervise the written legal work of attorneys and assist in drafting written submissions and developing legal arguments
Evaluate performance and provide constructive feedback to attorneys, aiding them in their professional development and growth
Demonstrate a commitment to anti-oppression work in the practice and office, and support directly impacted supervisees in challenging oppressive patterns
Prepare annual evaluations of supervisees
Oversee analysis and litigation of legal conflicts
Research and respond to questions about ethical issues and obligations in consultation with BxD’s General Counsel
Respond to ethical complaints filed against attorneys and staff members in coordination with BxD’s General Counsel
Mediate and resolve conflicts that arise during representation between attorneys and clients
Supervise annual updates of FDP legal memoranda of relevant law by interns
Strategic Visioning
Identify and advance litigation and programmatic priorities for FDP and develop best practices in consultation with the Managing Director
Work with FDP’s leadership to identify legal issues and practices to challenge by appeal, legislative change, or impact litigation
Meet regularly with attorneys and advocates to identify issues in need of litigation solutions and approaches
Collaborate with FDP’s Policy Director and BxD’s Impact Team to identify and advance solutions that address harms and lack of due process in the family policing system, including evaluating and drafting legislative proposals to statutes and laws governing Family Court proceedings
Programmatic Responsibilities
In collaboration with legal counsel, monitor relevant cases and new laws, and keep the practice informed of developments relevant to their practice at least quarterly in writing
Develop and maintain tools for sharing best practices and preserving institutional knowledge in conjunction with the Deputy Director and legal counsels
Continually improve our practice by identifying patterns and legal issues to address
Work with FDP Managing Director and supervisors to develop and update best practices
Collaborate with the FDP Managing Director, Director of IT, and Chief Data Scientist to refine practices for capturing data and outcomes
Work with FDP Managing Director to improve intra-practice cohesion and collaboration
Collaborate with the legal departments in BXD’s other practices to provide updates on legal developments in FDP and address holistic legal challenges
Administrative
Ensure the quality and completeness of the family defense practice resource bank that includes legal memos, model briefs, motions, and expert material, and use it to provide technical assistance to staff attorneys
Assist the Complex Litigation Team with the development of an expert database
Provide guidance, support, and oversight to maintaining case files in SharePoint
Provide guidance, support, and oversight to accurate and timely case management
Qualifications:
To be eligible, candidates must have:
Membership in good standing of the New York Bar
Minimum of ten-years of experience representing parents in cases alleging child abuse and neglect and related proceedings
Candidates must demonstrate:
Commitment to directly defending parents charged with abuse and/or neglect
Passion for family defense and dedication to building a robust holistic legal practice to challenge laws, legal policies and practices that cause harm to parents
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
Effective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skills
Supervisory and mentoring skills, including
Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring attorneys
Ability to provide intentional and constructive feedback
Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseload
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
Experience supervising attorneys is desirable but not required
This position is an in-person position subject to BXD’s hybrid work policies.
Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 10-20 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $131,240 – $151,760. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; 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 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, non-exempt 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. 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 us to consider. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized in your resume. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. If selected for the position, your resume will be used to determine your salary based on the number of years of directly relevant professional experience listed; we therefore encourage you to ensure your resume is up to date. Please note that applications without a written cover letter or audio/video statement will not be considered.
Applications will be accepted through March 10, 2025. Please contact Nicole Velazquez, Family Defense Practice Deputy Director, via email at [email protected] with 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 with which we work.
Title: Spanish/English Immigration Paralegal/attorney
Company: Brandes & Associates
Location: New York, NY
