Associate General Counsel

Brooklyn Defender Services (“BDS”) seeks an experienced Associate General Counsel to support the BDS legal function.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our legal expertise work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including for housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities.

The Associate General Counsel will be a generalist and will report to the BDS General Counsel. Responsibilities will include some or all of the below depending upon the applicants prior experience and interests:

• Vendor Contract Review.
• Non-profit compliance and governance.
• Employment and HR advice including relating to the collective bargaining agreement.
• Compliance around 403(b) and HR notices/new rules.
• Registration across numerous agencies, such as out of state fundraising, lobbying.
• Court filings and reports, such a for our student practice order.
• Assist attorneys with pro hac vice applications.
• Assist General Counsel with insurance, banking, and other issues.
• Research legal issues as they arise.
• Help develop and evolve policies related to our legal work as well as our status as a non-profit.
• Assure compliance with our CLE status.
• Assist with IT security and other data privacy issues.
• Other tasks as the General Counsel may assign.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Admitted to the New York Bar or eligible for admission.
• More than 4 years’ legal experience.
• Supportive of the BDS mission and the clients we represent.
• Ability to operationalize new policies in coordination with upper management, HR and employees of BDS.
• Excellent judgment and discretion, especially regarding confidential and sensitive matters
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Approaches problems practically and is solutions oriented.

Position Information 

This is an exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS’s offices.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range of $ 120,000- $160,000 depending on the applicant’s education and experience. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

Please visit our career center to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Please submit your application by July 18, 2025.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director, H.R., Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org.