Description:

A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office 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. A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office clients are represented by multidisciplinary teams including attorneys, advocates, team administrators and social workers. A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office is accepting applications for an experienced Custody Attorney in the Family Defense Practice to begin immediately.

The Family Defense Practice at A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office 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. A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office 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 A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office offices;
Cooperatively and effectively work with A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office 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 A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office 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 A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office 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 A Community-Based, Client-Centered, Holistic Public Defense Office's clients strongly preferred;
Spanish language fluency is preferred.