The Bronx Defenders (BxD) is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the justice 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 justice 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, child welfare, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, early defense, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic transformation at the local, state, and national level. 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. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

OPEN POSITIONS 

Entry-Level Attorney Positions - Training Team 2024 

Application period is now closed 

Every year, from May through October, The Bronx Defenders accepts applications from third-year law students and recent graduates for our criminal, family, civil, and immigration practices. Interviews will take place through the beginning of December and the selected interdisciplinary class of entry-level attorneys and advocates starts in September of the following year.  Please apply through your on-campus interviewing program or the nearest career fair if possible and submit your application here, please check our listings below during the application period and follow the instructions to apply.     

Lateral/Experienced Attorney Applicants 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and decisions will be made as soon as appropriate candidates are identified

We are currently accepting applications for lateral staff attorney positions in our Civil Action Practice. Please see the related job announcements below for details on the available positions and the application process. 

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 

Summer 2024 Legal Internship Opportunities 

Application period is now closed 

Every year, from May through October, The Bronx Defenders accepts applications from second-year law students for our criminal, family, civil, immigration and impact litigation practices. Interviews will take place through the end of October/first week of November and our robust summer internship programming will begin in May/June of the following year. Please apply through your on-campus interviewing program or the nearest career fair if possible and submit your application here, please check our listings below during the application period and follow the instructions to apply.     

Available Summer Internship Equity Programming  

The Bronx Defenders offers a range of equity programming and activities for interns from marginalized backgrounds and experiences, including but not limited to the following:  

Racially and Ethnically Marginalized Intern (REMI) Mentoring Program 

Systemic racism has ensured that Black, Indigenous, and people of color remain under-represented as lawyers and advocates in the legal profession, and incredibly over-represented as people targeted by oppressive legal systems. As a result, they are more likely to experience direct, in addition to vicarious trauma while advocating in these systems, and less likely to have enough mentorship and leadership who reflect their identities and share their unique experiences. Racially and Ethnically Marginalized Intern (REMI) Mentoring Program is designed to help fill this void.  REMI interns are paired with mentors of similar backgrounds and interests who offer professional support and guidance throughout and beyond the internship program. In addition to social events and networking mixers, the REMI Mentoring Program features a series of facilitated discussions where interns can unpack the nuances of privilege and oppression as it relates to their own lived experiences and their advocacy for others in marginalized communities. 

LGBTQIA+ Mentoring Program 

People who identify as LGBTQIA+ continue to experience discrimination and underrepresentation in the legal profession - a space where cis-heternormativity holds precedent and can serve to marginalize those who do not fit that frame.  As a result, people who hold these identities are less likely to have enough mentorship and leadership who reflect their identities and share their unique experiences. The LGBTQIA+ Program is designed to help fill this void. LGBTQIA+ interns are paired with mentors of similar backgrounds and interests who offer professional support and guidance throughout the internship program. In addition to social events and networking mixers, the LGBTQIA+ Program features a series of facilitated discussions where interns can unpack the nuances of privilege and oppression as it relates to their own lived experiences and their advocacy for others in marginalized communities. 
 
 

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply for positions with The Bronx Defenders, please view our Job Listings below, select the position(s) of interest, and follow the instructions to apply. Please be sure to upload both a resume and a cover letter together as a single document or a video/audio statement in lieu of a cover letter when prompted. Applications missing any components or not submitted in the requested manner will not be considered. 

If you encounter difficulty, please click the Applications FAQ link at the bottom of the page. 

For additional questions regarding employment opportunities at The Bronx Defenders, please contact Lecelott Rosario, Recruiting & Hiring Associate, at lecelottr@bronxdefenders.org. No phone calls, please. 

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 that we work with.