Mitigation Associate, Criminal Defense Practice

Brooklyn Defender Services•Forest Hills, NY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking a Mitigation Associate to join the Social Work Department in our Adult Criminal Defense Practice in Queens. BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our legal expertise work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty. 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. Under the supervision of the CDP Director of Social Work in Queens and in collaboration with the assigned Social Worker, the Mitigation Associate will interview clients, obtain collateral information, and request medical records for clients. A pre-pleading or pre-sentence report will then be compiled by the Associate which will describe the client’s mitigating circumstances and ask for a comprehensive plea deal and/or leniency in sentencing. The client’s defense attorney and attorney’s supervisor will also be consulted during this process. The Mitigation Associate will be expected to interview clients in person whenever possible, which may include jail visits, court visits and video conferences as needed in each case, along with home and community visits to interview clients and family members when indicated. The Mitigation Associate will also assist with compiling and writing bail packages, as well as producing other written reports as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, journalism or another related field.
Excellent writing skills.
Strong time management skills.
Excellent and empathetic communicator.
Ability to utilize case and document management systems to track information and data.
Strong attention to detail.
Proficiency in a second language is a plus.

Responsibilities

Interview clients in person and/or virtually in the community, in court, on Rikers Island and in other detention facilities as needed.
Request medical records on behalf of clients, including clients’ psychiatric, school, and hospital medical records.
Conduct in-depth collateral interviews with client’s family members.
Write thorough and persuasive mitigation reports incorporating feedback and edits from attorneys, social work supervisors, et al.
Attend client’s court dates when necessary.
Collaborate with attorneys and the assigned social worker to develop mitigation themes and narratives.
Attend writing workshops and trainings to hone writing and interview skills.
Meet writing deadlines set by the attorney and the social work supervisors.
Other duties as assigned.