Custody Attorney, Family Defense Practice - REQ: 2024-1232

NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE OF HARLEM

Custody Attorney, Family Defense Practice 

Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office located in Harlem, providing criminal, civil, and family representation to residents of Northern Manhattan and the Bronx who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. NDS clients are represented by multidisciplinary teams including attorneys, advocates, team administrators and social workers. NDS is accepting applications for an experienced Custody Attorney in the Family Defense Practice to begin immediately. 

The Family Defense Practice at NDS represents parents in family policing cases (sometimes called “child welfare” cases) filed by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) as well as related family court cases, including custody, visitation and termination of parental rights proceedings. Through our holistic approach to representation, the Family Defense Practice provides parents with the help they need—both inside and outside of court—to keep their families safe and stable. Parents are represented not only by a high-quality attorney, but also social workers, team administrators, and client advocates. NDS is committed to advancing due process rights for parents by fighting unwarranted state intervention in their lives and advocating for related systemic change. The Custody Attorney will work closely with Attorneys, Team Administrators, Social Workers and Client Advocates to provide vigorous representation to clients in Custody and other related cases

Responsibilities

● Provide representation with energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and truly holistic advocacy throughout the case;

● Engage in frequent in-person court hearings and litigation on custody, guardianship, visitation, paternity and order of protection cases in Bronx and Manhattan Family Courts;

● File motions, briefs and other related court papers on a frequent, timely basis;

● Be responsive to and communicate clearly and compassionately with clients who are often under great stress;

● Meet regularly in-person with clients in court and in NDS offices;

● Cooperatively and effectively work with NDS non-attorney advocates in order to provide clients with assistance both in and out of court;

● Work under high pressure in an atmosphere of frequent emergencies and tight deadlines;

● Provide guidance and counsel to NDS attorneys on custody, guardianship, visitation, paternity and orders of protection cases in Bronx and Manhattan Family Courts;

● Travel regularly to Bronx and Manhattan Family Courts and NDS satellite offices, as well as to the Central Office in Harlem;

● Collaborate with and provide mentorship to less experienced staff attorneys.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to parents’ rights, indigent defense, social justice issues and/or impacted communities in Manhattan and the Bronx;
• Candidates must have minimum 3 years’ experience representing parents in custody, guardianship, visitation, paternity and orders of protection;
• Must possess excellent oral and written advocacy skills;
• Must be very flexible and possess a high level of organizational and administrative skills in order to handle a high caseload;
• Must be admitted to the NYS Bar;
• Lived experience with the Family Policing System and other systems impacting NDS’s clients strongly preferred;
• Spanish language fluency is preferred.

 Compensation

 Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Full medical and dental benefits, as well as other benefits, are provided. The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.

 SALARY RANGE BASED ON DIRECTLY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

 1 – 5 Years $79,482.76 - $88,768.44

6 – 10 Years $91,431.48 - $104,905.31

11 – 15 Years $111,199.45 - $124,506.07

16 – 30 Years $125,477.21 - $159,988.80

How to Apply

 Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in a single PDF through NDS’s website at neighborhooddefender.org/careers. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. 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.

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. 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.