The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an experienced family defense attorney to be a part time (3 days a week) Intake Supervisor in the Family Defense Practice.

Founded in 1997, The Bronx Defenders 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 as well as to address the underlying drivers and enmeshed penalties of legal system involvement.

Since opening our doors, we have grown into an organization of more than 400 staff members defending nearly 20,000 New Yorkers each year in criminal, family, civil, and immigration proceedings who face incarceration, family separation, eviction, and deportation, among other devastating consequences.

Today we are 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 with current and future public defenders. We run two legal clinics at NYC law schools and train public defenders from one end of the country to the next on how to move to a holistic model of representation.

Family Defense Practice  

As residents of the most heavily disinvested borough in the city, families in the Bronx experience the highest rates of family policing and parent-child separation. We serve as the primary institutional provider defending parents and caretakers against the painful and unnecessary removals of their children in the Bronx. Together, our attorneys, social workers, and parent advocates provide the legal defense and support necessary to keep families together and interrupt generational cycles of family court involvement.

Reporting to the Director of Early Defense, the Part-Time Intake Supervisor will supervise and manage The Bronx Defenders’ intake team in Bronx Family Court.

Direct Representation

• Represent a reduced number of people
• Provide and arrange coverage for emergencies in court as necessary
• Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiations as part of legal representation 
• Zealously represent parents in child protective proceedings in Bronx Family Court and any concurrent matters including custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights cases  
• Effectively communicate and negotiate with judges, caseworkers, child attorneys, and representatives of the Administration for Children’s Services on behalf of parents
• Litigate legal matters in abuse and neglect proceedings in hearings and trials in family court - orally and in writing  Participate in holistic advocacy within the practice and in the office 
• 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 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 to junior attorneys 
• Supervise and train interns and externs 
• Conduct internal trainings in conjunction with the FDP Training Department

Supervision

• Supervise intake on a part time basis
• Troubleshoot the day-to-day issues and challenges that arise in intake and assist with arraigning cases when necessary
• Act as the primary liaison between court staff and BXD regarding Article 10 intake
• Act as the primary point of contact for all questions regarding potential client conflicts that arise in intake and communicate potential conflicts to other practices in BXD as appropriate
• Provide supervision to attorneys on intake
• Develop practice guidance regarding issues that arise during a parent’s intake
• Ensure that parents have access to timely and quality emergency hearings
• Coach attorneys and encourage zealous, client-centered representation in all aspects of the intake appearance
  • Client interviewing
  • Discovery deadlines
  • Developing and making applications at intake re visitation, services, and placement
  • Analyzing and understanding ACS petitions, client history with ACS, and other relevant background information
  • Helping with identifying and making referrals to other practice areas
  • Developing case strategy within the fast-paced intake timeline
• Consult with attorneys and advocates on intake applications strategy, including release arguments, visitation arguments, identifying and advocating for placement with preferred resources, and applications regarding conditions of court ordered supervision;
• Work with Bronx Defenders family court liaisons, the administrative and intake team, parent advocates, and attorneys to
  • Triage cases
  • Assist with review of petitions and possible conflicts
  • Facilitate the efficient assignment of counsel of the people we defend and prioritize those in need of emergency hearings
  • Ensure equitable distribution of cases among attorneys
  • Monitor receipt of information and/or documents brought to the Court Office
  • Aid in communication with potential clients
• Provide ongoing feedback to practice supervisors, training directors, and practice managers on daily courtroom operations, ACS application trends, and skills/advocacy of attorneys and advocates
• Facilitate opportunities for advocates outside the Family Defense Practice, interns, Pro bono partners and supporters to observe arraignments
• Provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision, and support marginalized attorneys in navigating experiences of oppression in arraignments
• Demonstrate a commitment to anti-oppression work in the practice and office

Strategic Initiatives

• Identify systemic issues faced by the people we defend and advocates in intake and, in conjunction with Family Defense Practice Directors, identify litigation, policy, and legislative strategies to address these issues
• Participate in office initiatives regarding court delay, OCFS reform, and other family defense related policy lobbying and implementation
• Coordinate the implementation and review of pilot initiatives in intake
• Collaborate with other staff, including the Chief Data Scientist, to analyze post-shift data and inform intake advocacy strategies and practice recommendations to maximize releases, comprehensive orders that support families, and fair treatment of families during the intake process

Leadership

• Manage Bronx Defenders intake shifts in Bronx Family Court including, but not limited to, meeting with and responding to the judge and other court personnel on various issues that arise in intake, ensuring cases are being handled in a timely manner and troubleshooting any issues attorneys may have
• Coordinate with other Family Defense Supervisors to organize shift scheduling, including entering shift swaps and monitoring the intake calendar;
• Collaborate with the Family Defense Practice Training Director to create and facilitate trainings on intake practices
• Advocate with intake stakeholders, such as the judiciary, ACS, Department of Corrections, court officers, court clerk’s office, the Help Center, and other service providers in the interests of the people we represent and Bronx Defenders staff
• Work with the Family Defense Practice Legal Department and Appeals department to develop best practices and institutional resources to address legal issues in intake
• Coordinate with our Social Work, Immigration, Civil Action, and Criminal Defense Practice supervisors and advocates to develop and implement holistic intake best practices, including but not limited to social work referrals and referrals to other practices

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• A minimum of 4 years practicing law as a family defense attorney, including at least one year at The Bronx Defenders

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Effective active listening skills
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Effective verbal and written advocacy
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
• Commitment to zealous advocacy and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent
• Ability to work collaboratively with Bronx Defenders staff, supervisors, directors, and external courthouse stakeholders on issues related to intake
• Knowledge of New York Family Court Act, in particular Article 10, as well as current caselaw related to intake, emergency hearings (1027 and 1028), and visitation policies
• Commitment to holistic, interdisciplinary defense in intake practice
• Supervisory and mentoring skills, including
  • Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring staff
  • Ability to provide intentional and constructive feedback
  • Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own caseload
• Ability to create and present training materials and institutional resources to guide attorneys in intake practice
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality around sensitive issues
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

This is a part time in-person position.

Salary is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is approximately $46.55-$50.27/hour, depending on level of experience. The person in this position will also be 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.

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. 

To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document. Your cover letter 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 on your resume. 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 includes all relevant professional experience. Applications without a written cover letter will not be considered.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please contact George Kottas, Director of Early Defense, Family Defense Practice, via email at georgek@bronxdefenders.org with any questions regarding the position.

The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining 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 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 serve.