Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem

Staff Attorney, Youth Law Team, Criminal 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. NDS seeks to hire an experienced: Staff Attorney on the Youth Law Team within the Criminal Defense Practice.

The Criminal Defense Practice at NDS represents residents of Northern Manhattan who are charged with crimes and cannot afford to hire a lawyer. The Youth Law Team represents children accused as delinquents in Family Court and PINS petitions, teenagers who are prosecuted in the Youth Part of Supreme Court, and teenagers and young adults who are prosecuted in Criminal and Supreme Courts in New York County. The Youth Law Team consists of attorneys and mitigation specialists. These advocates coordinate with other members of the Criminal Defense Practice and members of NDS’s other practice areas, including an education rights attorney, to provide our youngest clients with representation that addresses the underlying issues that brought them in contact with the criminal legal system as well as collateral issues that result from that contact.  

• Provide vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to young residents of Northern Manhattan.
• Engage in frequent court appearances and litigation, including arraignments, grand jury presentations, legal arguments, hearings and trials.
• Prepare clients and their families on Probation Adjustment Interviews and attend the interviews.
• Interview clients and their families in the Harlem office or local jails and detention facilities, conduct legal research and write pre-pleading letters, motions and develop mitigation reports on behalf of clients.
• Coordinate work performed by team members (investigators, social workers, mitigation specialists, team administrators and interns);
• Work with cross-practice colleagues (education, family defense, immigration defense, housing defense and other civil defense) to obtain comprehensive legal outcomes for clients.
• File motions, briefs and other related documents on a frequent and timely basis.
• Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations and arguments in criminal and family court cases.
• Work primarily at NDS’ main office in Central Harlem when not in Court or on intake.

• Must possess a demonstrated commitment to indigent defense, social justice issues and/or the Harlem communities.
• Must have a demonstrated commitment to holistic and client-centered approach to representation.
• Must have at least two years of experience representing clients in criminal cases or juvenile delinquency proceedings.
• Must possess a high level of organizational and administrative skills and be able to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Must have active listening skills and ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Must be able to work cooperatively in a team setting.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Must be flexible about work location and have the ability to split time between Manhattan’s downtown courts and NDS’s main office in Central Harlem.
• Bi-lingual (Spanish) candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Must be licensed to practice law in New York or pro hac vice until admitted to the New York bar.

COMPENSATION:

Min: $82,651 Annual Compensation.

Max: $166,388 Annual Compensation.

The current salary range for this position is $82,651 - $166,388. 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. 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.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume 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.