Criminal Defense Practice Legal Administrator

Overview

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate administrative professional with a commitment to social justice to fill a position in our Criminal Defense Practice (CDP) as a Legal Administrator.

The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative individuals with a strong commitment to public defense to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we represent.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. We push for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities that we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Responsibilities

The CDP Legal Administrators support and advance the Criminal Defense Practice's work by performing various tasks including case and data management, discovery review and organization, and client coordination. This position reports to the Managing Director of Administration.

Supporting the People We Represent

• Communicate with the people we represent about important case updates including upcoming court appearances, missed court appearances, changes of court date, reassignments of counsel, and case closings
• Arrange for clients to sign legal documents and releases
• Request that incarcerated clients be produced for counsel visits and court appearances
• Assist attorneys and advocates with DOC facility administrative requests
• Coordinate with mailroom regarding outgoing mailing requests
• Assist with other tasks including backup coverage as needed to meet practice and client needs
• Provide information, services, advocacy and representation in various administrative for a and other settings including, but not limited to:

Legal Document Preparation and Filing

• Prepare notices of appeal
• Compile exhibits
• Order and retrieve transcripts
• Prepare affidavits of service and store in the document management system
• File motions

Case Management

• Organize, update, and close cases in the case management system
• Maintain client files in document management system
• Manage within practice case transfers
• Copy and organize case materials for co-counsel

Case Documents and Discovery

• Assist with receipt, organization, and review of discovery materials and case documents
• Use discovery materials and case documents to prepare case timelines and witness statement charts
• Transcribe 911 calls, video statements, and other electronic records
• Request, retrieve, and organize case-related documents
• Assist with compiling and mailing case file materials to clients

Administrative Support

• Provide clerical support such as faxing, scanning, and copying documents
• Maintain functional working conditions by ensuring printers and copiers are working properly, stocking supplies, and organizing files and storage spaces
• Provide notary services
• Request, retrieve, and copy case records for BxD advocates, experts, clients, co-counsel, and other parties
• Communicate status of record requests
• Maintain warrant files and electronically re-open bench warrant cases
• Send and request physical files to and from archiving site
• Obtain criminal history and record information using databases such as CRIMS and webCRIMS
• Run regular caseload reports and update cases
• Serve records request forms and letters on record-holding entities and obtain records if they are immediately available

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

1. Two years of relevant experience

Candidates must demonstrate:

1. Passion for holistic public defense, racial justice, and work on behalf of racially and economically marginalized communities
2. Commitment to directly defending people ensnared in family, criminal, civil and immigration legal systems
3. Experience working in and with racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically marginalized communities
4. Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of clients
5. Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate, and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities, and experiences
6. Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively
7. Ability to multitask, maintain order, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
8. Meticulous attention to detail
9. Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
10. Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly
11. Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
12. Spanish language (validated objectively) skills a plus, but not required
13. Paralegal Certificate or associate's degree is preferred, but not required

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 2-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $69,250 - $71,500. Full-time employees are also 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 within the bargaining unit.

This position is non-exempt. By law, nonexempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to overtime, whereas exempt employees are not.

To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and cover letter in one document. Your cover letter should share why you want to do this work at our office as well as some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position. 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; you should therefore include all relevant professional experience on your resume. Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

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.