Managing Attorney, Civil Defense Practice

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office located in Harlem, providing civil, criminal and family representation to residents of Northern Manhattan. The Civil Defense Practice plays an integral role in NDS’s fulfillment of its holistic mission. The practice works to prevent the destabilization that befalls clients and their families due to the harsh civil consequences of contact with the criminal legal and family court systems through affirmative and defensive representation in housing, employment, benefits, education, forfeiture, reentry services, police misconduct and other collateral consequences matters. The Managing Attorney of the Civil Defense Practice manages our Collateral Consequences Team staff as well as Civil Community Intake.

Responsibilities

• With enthusiasm for and commitment to providing the highest quality, client-centered legal services to existing NDS criminal, family, or immigration clients with collateral civil legal issues, be primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Collateral Consequences Team staff and our internal referral processes.
• Manage and further develop NDS’s Community Intake for members of the Northern Manhattan community facing civil legal issues, with an emphasis on issues arising from interactions with the criminal and family court systems.
• Collaborate with management across NDS practices and administration to develop systems and procedures and promote practice and organizational goals;
• Support staff in the provision of client-centered representation including through identifying and providing resources, professional development opportunities, and trainings; monitoring and responding to important practice-related changes; and responding to client concerns and ethical questions;
• Set expectations for and provide direct supervision and support to Supervising Attorneys, Community Intake staff, and certain specialist positions, including our Education Attorney;
• Identify and engage with funders, including through responding to Requests for Proposals and maintaining relationships with funding sources;
• Oversee compliance with contractual obligations including through the oversight of data input and reporting;
• Collaborate with union delegates, respond to union concerns, and participate in overseeing labor relations within NDS;
• Facilitate and coordinate the hiring and onboarding of new staff and engage with human resources on matters of staff concern;
• Represent NDS and the Civil Defense Practice in coalitions and in communication with community organizations and other stakeholders on policy matters and other issues impacting clients and service delivery.

Qualifications

• A demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds;
• J.D. Degree and admission to practice law in New York State or eligible for admission;
• At least five years of experience providing direct services to low-income clients facing eviction in housing court and/or civil collateral consequences of contact with the criminal and family court systems.
• A comprehensive knowledge of and experience practicing in at least two of the substantive legal areas covered by the Civil Defense Practice: New York state housing law, employment law, public benefits access, education law, other re-entry and criminal record matters, property/forfeiture, and police misconduct.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills;
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities; and
• Deep commitment to advancing equity within organizational spaces.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume in a single PDF through NDS’s website at neighborhooddefender.org/careers by August 15th. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NDS we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people to apply.