Family Preservation Staff Attorney

5-10 yrs required

Full-time

No

# Job Title: Family Preservation Staff Attorney
## Organization: Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS)

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office located in Harlem, providing the highest quality representation in criminal, civil, immigration and family courts to residents of Northern Manhattan and the Bronx who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. NDS is now accepting applications within our Family Defense Practice for a Family Preservation Staff Attorney.

### Responsibilities

- Provide excellent client-centered representation with creativity, energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and holistic advocacy throughout the case
- Take primary responsibility, with supervisory support, of all aspects of a caseload of post-dispositional Article 10 and TPR cases in Manhattan, including motion practice, discovery, oral argument, settlement negotiations, and hearings and trials
- Co-counsel a small number of post-dispositional Article 10 and TPR cases in Manhattan
- Engage in frequent in-person and virtual court hearings and litigation
- Meet regularly with clients in-person in court and at NDS offices
- Be responsive to and communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress
- Engage in formal and informal in-person and electronic advocacy with opposing counsel and attorney(s) for children
- File motions, briefs and other related court papers on a frequent, timely basis
- Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiation and argument in Family Court
- Collaborate with social workers, client advocates, and other attorneys to secure optimal outcomes on behalf of clients
- Provide mentorship to less-experienced attorneys
- Represent NDS in city- and state-wide coalitions
- Create and maintain training and resources for all attorneys on litigation post-dispositional Article 10 and TPR cases
- Work under high pressure in an atmosphere of frequent emergencies and tight deadlines
- Travel regularly to the satellite office in Lower Manhattan and Manhattan Family Courts and occasionally to the Central Office in Harlem

### Qualifications

-
- Demonstrated commitment to parents’ rights, indigent defense, social justice issues and/or the Harlem or Bronx communities
- Must be very flexible and possess a high level of organizational and administrative skills in order to manage a dedicated post-disposition and TPR caseload
- Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills
- Must be able to work cooperatively with attorneys and other NDS advocates, and problem-solve independently
- Lived experience with the Family Policing System and other systems impacting NDS’s clients strongly preferred
- Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred

### Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. For this position, the salary range for attorneys with 5-10 years of directly relevant experience is USD $88, to USD $104, per year. 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.

### How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in a single PDF email to Myranda Mendez, with the subject line: “Family Preservation Staff Attorney, Family Defense Practice.”

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem 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.

### Job Summary

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is currently seeking a Family Preservation Staff Attorney to join the Family Defense Practice. This position will provide excellent client-centered representation with creativity, energy, enthusiasm and a commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist, intersectional, non-judgmental, and holistic advocacy throughout the case. Responsibilities include taking primary responsibility, with supervisory support, of all aspects of a caseload of post-dispositional Article 10 and TPR cases in Manhattan, engaging in frequent in-person and virtual court hearings and litigation, meeting regularly with clients in-person in court and at NDS offices, and engaging in formal and informal in-person and electronic advocacy with opposing counsel and attorney(s) for children. Qualified applicants must have a . The salary range for attorneys with 5-10 years of directly relevant experience is USD $88, to USD $104, per year. Full medical and dental benefits, as well as other benefits,

Medical and Dental Benefits

Spanish (preferred)

Litigation, Oral Argument, Settlement Negotiations, Motions, Discovery, Hearings and Trials

D. degree

Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample in a single PDF email to Myranda Mendez, with the subject line “Family Preservation Staff Attorney, Family Defense Practice.”

Qualification and Experience D. degree, admission to practice law in New York State or eligible for admission, and at least 5 years' experience litigating family policing cases, including TPR trials

Legal