Litigation Technology Specialist, Criminal Practice

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking an experienced professional with advanced computer, paralegal, and organizational abilities for the position of Litigation Technology Specialist in the Criminal Practice. 

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown people living below the poverty level in Brooklyn.

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 housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues. 

Under the auspices of the Legal Operations unit, the Litigation Technology Specialist will be responsible for assisting litigation teams in identifying, learning, and using litigation and investigative support tools, preparing and presenting effective electronic courtroom presentations, and developing, in conjunction with legal operations, supervisors, and technology staff, strategic initiatives to advance and improve the office’s use of technological tools for litigation purposes.

Responsibilities

• Work with electronic and paper discovery, as well as investigation materials, to organize, manage, analyze, and produce case materials for litigation and trial presentation.

• Understand and help parse the output of forensic device analysis toolkits (like Cellebrite and GrayKey), social media discovery, body-worn camera videos, and digital location information to help attorneys understand the contents, work with these discovery materials in motion practice, cross examinations, and closings, and identify potentially exculpatory evidence within these voluminous materials.

• Operate audio/video equipment and provide on-site technical assistance in the courtroom for the presentation of evidence.

• Editing video, photos, and audio to make it usable in a courtroom. 

• Arm attorneys with background technical knowledge that can both help them make more effective arguments about evidence with a technical component and equip them to present case materials more persuasively.

• Be “on-call” for technical assistance related to hearings, trials, and other case appearances.

• Work after hours from time to time when a case is on trial and assistance is needed. 

• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High degree of technical aptitude including the ability to come up to speed with new and software related to audio/visual and extraction of content from phones and other digital devices.

• Ability to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

• Vigilance when working with very sensitive and privileged information, including an ability to treat such information with the security and care it requires.

Proficiency with:

o Presentation software (e.g. PowerPoint)

o Video editing software

o Adobe Pro

o Audio editing software 

o Image editing software (e.g. Photoshop)

Familiarity with at least some of the software below is a plus: 

o Trial presentation software (e.g. TRIAL DIRECTOR)

o Media player software (e.g. VLC media player)

o Digital forensic software (e.g. Cellebrite, Axiom) 

Position Information  

This is a full-time, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm with an occasional requirement of evenings during an active trial. The position is based at BDS’s offices, and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn. There is a three-day per week in-person requirement for this position. In addition, the Litigation Technology Specialist will also be expected to be in the office/court during active trials as needed even if that results in additional days in-person.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. The pay scale ranges $65,00-$90,000. 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     

 Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.   We recommend you submit your application by May 31, 2024.

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 of H.R., Christina Wallace at cwallace@bds.org.

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.  

Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.   We recommend you submit your application by May 31, 2024.