Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking an experienced Attorney for the Custody Practice of the Family Defense Team.

BDS is a public defense office that represents low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown people living below the poverty level in Brooklyn.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including for housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities in Brooklyn.

BDS's Family Defense Practice (FDP) represents low-income parents in Article 10 (abuse and neglect) proceedings in Brooklyn Family Court. Our mission is to fight the removal of children from their families and advocate for families to be reunified as quickly as possible. FDP defends parents' due process rights by fighting unwarranted state intervention in their lives. Using a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, our teams of attorneys, social workers and paralegals help families obtain the benefits and services they need to keep their families safe and stable. The office also advocates for systemic change in the family court and family regulation systems.

FDP is a client-centered practice which involves a great deal of contact with clients. Attorneys spend most of their time in court proceedings with frequent hearings and trials, often on an emergency basis. Staff attorneys are expected to provide high-quality and zealous representation at all court appearances and throughout the course of a case. Our office takes a collaborative team approach to representation and attorneys work closely with supervisors, social workers, paralegals and our administrative team to provide inter-disciplinary representation.

Under the direct supervision of FDPs Supervising Custody Attorney, the custody attorney will collaborate with Article 10 attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and administrative staff to provide comprehensive legal advocacy and representation to clients in custody cases that are related to Article 10 proceedings in Brooklyn Family Court.

Responsibilities:

Represent parents in custody, visitation, family offense and paternity/parentage cases arising from Article 10 matters, primarily custody cases that arise during an Article 10 case.

In collaboration with supervisors, other attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and administrative staff to develop case strategy, investigate facts and build trusting relationships with clients to help them achieve their goals.

Communicate regularly with clients to understand their concerns and their goals for their case and to provide them with the information they need to make decisions about their case.

In collaboration with our law and appeals and paralegal teams, write motions, memos of law and appellate papers in custody cases.

Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

Admission to the New York Bar, or ability to become admitted in New York.

Excellent litigation skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Bilingual English and Spanish speakers are strongly encouraged to apply.

Demonstrated understanding of the challenges facing low-income people in Brooklyn

Strong motivation to work with parents who may be facing separation from their children.

Position Information

This is a full-time, Exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDSs offices, and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn. At the time of this posting, BDS staff are working a hybrid schedule of remote and in-person work. Applicants should be prepared to move flexibly between in-person and remote work as court and office policies shift.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range from $79,000-$154,040. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Application Instructions

Click Apply to submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates?of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you are eligible for an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace@bds.org (ccox@bds.org) .