The Legal Aid Society, the nation's oldest and largest social justice legal services organization, has an immediate opening for a dedicated, passionate Assistant Social Work Supervisor in the Criminal Defense Practice's Parole Revocation Defense Unit. The Criminal Defense Practice is the primary public defender in New York City, providing holistic, client-centered vertical representation to over 200,000 people facing misdemeanor, felony, and homicide charges.

The PRDU unit was created in 1972 and is the first office of its type in the nation, providing both legal and social work services to its clients. The Unit represents people on parole charged with violating the terms of their release at administrative hearings and in judicial proceedings. With the assistance of federal funding, the Unit has offered expanded services to clients with special needs, including young people, women, and people on parole who are physically or mentally ill. The Unit's social work staff play a crucial role in these cases, by placing clients in residential and outpatient treatment programs, and advocating on their behalf. The social workers are experts in oral advocacy. They spend their time at the Bronx and Brooklyn courthouse providing testimony during parole revocation hearings, affecting outcomes on the spot.

The Assistant Social Work Supervisor will be primarily responsible for supervising the four forensic social workers in PRDU. The Assistant will take the lead in evaluating current social work practice in PRDU and developing new protocols and strategies to respond to changing needs. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary practice and decision-making, prior supervisory responsibility and substantive experience in working with an interdisciplinary team, connections to and relationships with NYC community providers, educational institutions, DOC, and the court systems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner and collaborate with Attorney in Charge, Director, Attorney Supervisors, Attorneys, Investigators, and Paralegals, and managers to shape and develop a professional practice and office culture through developmental and training opportunities
• Provide onsite supervision and support to FSW's practicing in both the Bronx and Brooklyn courthouses
• Provide emergency court coverage as needed in the Bronx and Brooklyn courthouses
• Responsible for a small caseload of clients
• Create and support new approaches and training processes and practices to meet staff and client needs
• Provide in-service training and case consultation regularly
• Develop and implement training processes, procedures, and policies
• Participate in supervisory and management meetings
• Represent the Practice at external meetings and conferences
• Develop relationships with DOCCS staff including Administrative Law Judges, Parole Revocation Specialist, and Parole Officers
• Collaborate with other Criminal Justice organizations and stakeholders to inform and influence policies and best practices within the borough and/or citywide
• Collaborate with the LAS training unit to assist with building and sustaining internal relationships and creating a work environment where everyone feels included and respected

• NYS LMSW required
• Excellent oral and presentation skills, with a preference for candidates who have training experience in live and/or virtual settings
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong written and communication skills
• Interest in fast past work and strong crisis management skills
• Ability to manage work with many different players and in two locations
• Dynamic and engaging outreach, training, and facilitation skills
• High level of self-awareness and ability to give and receive feedback well
• Impeccable attention to detail, systems, and processes
• Ability to work with flexibility, independence, accountability, and passion
• Five years related experience
• Knowledge of criminal justice system, mental health and substance abuse service delivery systems
• Substantial supervisory and training experience
• Ability to work in a team setting
• Excellent interpersonal and advocacy skills
• Experience working with adults in the criminal justice system

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $93,110

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume