Description
The Bronx Defenders (BxD) is an innovative, progressive public defense office in the South Bronx. We are seeking a passionate individual with a commitment to social justice and supporting people ensnared in the various legal systems to be the Director of our Civil Holistic Team in the Civil Action Practice (CAP).
Founded in 1997, BxD is a public defender nonprofit that has developed a nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense, which provides people with teams of lawyers, social workers, and advocates to defend them zealously in court and address the underlying drivers and enmeshed penalties of legal system involvement.
Our office now has more than 400 staff members who defend nearly 20,000 New Yorkers facing incarceration, family separation, eviction, and deportation (among other devastating consequences) in criminal, family, civil, and immigration proceedings each year.
We continue reimagining the role of public defense even further, using community organizing and engagement, legislative advocacy, and impact litigation to partner with the communities we represent to bring about long-lasting systemic change. We also share our model and lessons learned on how to move to a holistic model of representation with current and future public defenders throughout the country.
CIVIL ACTION
A sweeping array of civil punishments are triggered the moment someone faces arrest, deportation, or family separation. The people we represent risk losing their jobs, homes, income, property, and basic civil rights—struggles that can be more devastating and long-lasting than the charges themselves. Last year, we helped over 4,000 people obtain concrete benefits like maintaining their jobs, homes, income, property, and rights.
Civil Holistic Advocacy at The Bronx Defenders:
Our Civil Holistic Team provides responds to referrals from our criminal, family and immigration practices and provides expertise to defend against the direct civil consequences of various legal systems in the areas of housing, employment, property seizure & forfeiture, benefits, government misconduct and reentry and to enable access to economic and housing justice for people who face barriers from criminal court involvement, family regulation through the Administration of Children Services or as non-citizens facing removal.
Responsibilities
Reporting directly to the Managing Director of the Civil Action Practice, the Director will lead the Civil Holistic Team, supervise supervisory and other staff, and support all aspects of the Civil Holistic Team at The Bronx Defenders. The Director will also be responsible for expanding the team’s work; developing processes and infrastructure to advance collaboration; providing training and development to both the Team as well as attorneys, advocates and interns in the Civil Action Practice; and acting as a liaison between the Team, management, practices, community-based organizations, funders and the Bronx community.
Supervision
Supervise & support CAP supervising attorneys, CLA supervisors and other staff (attorneys and non-attorney advocates), and oversee the supervision of attorneys and non-attorney advocates to ensure consistent supervision practices, aligned expectations, and equitable workload distribution.
Conduct supervision evaluations and meet either weekly or bi-weekly with supervisees and Supervisory Attorneys to address caseload management, performance concerns, practice challenges, referrals, and client issues
Provide back-up supervisory, escalation, and coverage support for attorneys, advocates, and supervisors
Develop and maintain clear supervision structures, assignments, and rotations, ensuring equitable supervisor-to-staff ratios and coverage for intake and referral-based practice
Provide equitable supervision and support to all supervisees
Organize and set agendas for Supervisory Team and Staff meetings, as well as collaborate with the Deputy Director to plan and co-facilitate Quarterly Civil Holistic Meetings with attorneys and advocates
Onboard, support, train, and supervise attorneys and advocates to ensure we provide high quality, creative, client-centered representation and advocacy
Review and evaluate supervisees’ data entry and case management to ensure high-quality services, evaluate the impact of our advocacy, and meet funding/reporting requirements
Review, monitor, and evaluate attorney workloads to ensure equitable distribution and alignment with practice expectations
Support, evaluate, and provide feedback on client-related advocacy, including written, oral and trial advocacy in administrative fora, courts, and the community
Be available for co-counsel and in-court supervision
Assist with and review all litigation preparation
Approve timesheets and time-off requests
Supervise case and calendar management, client interaction and relationships with the judiciary and adversaries
Monitor the ethical responsibilities in litigation and advocacy in conjunction with the Legal Director, Managing Director and CAP Supervisory Team
Collaborate with CAP Training Director to onboard, train, and aid in the ongoing professional development of supervisees & civil holistic team
Cross-Practice Leadership
Promote and facilitate intra-practice and interdisciplinary collaboration across CAP by designing and leading regular roundtables, working groups, office hours, and cross-practice meetings
Promote and facilitate intra-practice and interdisciplinary collaboration among attorneys, advocates and administrative staff within CAP and between practices
Schedule & facilitate regular roundtable & check-ins and working groups within the practice and between practices
Attend cross-practice and other relevant meetings
Design and lead spaces to enhance CAP’s collaboration with other practices, including office hours
Management/Leadership
Meet regularly with the CAP’s Managing & Deputy Directors and CAP Management Team
Inform and help to implement practice priorities and improvements
Support the development and implementation of streamlined, consistent workflows across Supervisory Team
Support supervisory team in managing cross-role coordination impacting attorney practice
Aid in determining the direction and growth of civil legal services at BxD
Work to develop and implement CAP related information management, training, and other public education within the office and the community
Manage Civil Holistic Team
Collaborate with Data Team to create reports to understand the needs of the Bronx community and to measure the impact of CAP’s work across practices
Collect, analyze, review and report data on the efficacy and impact of our work to develop program, identify patterns of need and to comply with funding requirements
Use data to inform supervision strategies, training priorities, and practice improvements
Collaborate with reception staff to ensure our office is a welcoming space for community members and provide efficient, integrated services
Collaborate with the Managing Director of CAP to identify funding opportunities to build and expand the Civil Holistic Team
Collaborate with the Managing Director to manage and comply with CAP’s grants
Collaborate with the Managing Director to ensure quality, comprehensive and caring services are being provided to the people we represent and community members
Manage the Recruiting, Training, and Development of CAP Benefits Advocates
Collaborate with the Recruiting team to manage the recruiting and onboarding processes for new CAP Holistic Team members, interns and pro bono scholars
Collaborate with the CAP Training Director to plan and implement trainings to address the ongoing professional and skill development needs, training and onboarding of new and experienced CAP advocates, social workers, attorneys and interns with respect to holistic defense
Identify training needs based on supervision trends, practice developments, and evolving client needs
Support interdisciplinary trainings that strengthen holistic defense across roles
Partner with the Training and Deputy Director to develop, maintain, and update a centralized practice repository for Civil Holistic Attorneys, including guidance, templates, practice advisories, and resources
Collaborate with Training Director and Legal Director to translate changes in law, policy, and practice into clear guidance for attorneys and advocates
Communicate and Collaborate with Leaders in Other Practice Areas
Represent the Civil Holistic Team on CAP Management Team
Consult on policies and practices affecting advocates and the people we represent
Ensure regular and effective cross-practice and interdisciplinary collaboration
Participate in Management Meetings with supervisors and managers in CAP
Work with CAP managers and staff to advance role clarity among non-attorney advocates roles, civil legal advocates, and social workers for effective collaboration
Coordinate CAP holistic Team representation in external committees and internal working groups, in consultation with the Managing Directors of CAP
Participate in the development of special projects that are responsive to the needs of the people we represent
Represent BxD in the Community & Coalitions
Represent BxD and the CAP Civil Holistic team in community-based and provider coalitions
Manage relationships with a variety of external organizations and coalition partners
Participate in external trainings and conferences to educate on and advance civil legal services work in a holistic defense setting
Create educational and outreach materials
Keep up to date on changes regarding civil legal services and inform the office about changes relevant to our work
This is a hybrid position that will require 21 hours/week of in-person work.
Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 5-15 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $124,418.00 - $157,651.00. 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; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.
This position is exempt. By law, exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to overtime, whereas exempt employees are not.
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.
To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and cover letter in one document. Your resume will be used to determine your salary based on the number of years of directly relevant professional experience and should include all relevant professional experience. Applications without a written cover letter will not be considered.
The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating a 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 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 that we work with.
Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must have:
Membership in good standing to the New York State Bar or eligibility for admission to the New York State Bar
Minimum of 5 years of civil litigation experience, with a minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience.
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate:
Commitment to social justice, racial justice and housing justice work
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 independently as well as collaboratively on 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 verbal and written advocacy skills
Strong legal analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources and solutions
Strong Supervisory and Mentoring skills as demonstrated by:
Success in developing and mentoring supervisees
Skilled in providing equitable and constructive feedback
Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseload
Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
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
Preferred, but not required
Spanish fluency (validated objectively) is strongly preferred
Experience supervising and training interns or staff is a plus
