Social Worker, Women's Defense Project and Mental Health Teams

Brooklyn Defender Services•New York, NY

12d•$88,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking a Social Worker to join their Criminal Defense Practice in the Brooklyn Office. This role will involve working with both the Women’s Defense Project and the Mental Health Team. BDS is a public defender office dedicated to representing low-income New Yorkers in various legal matters, including criminal, family, immigration, and civil cases. For nearly 30 years, BDS has been committed to protecting the rights of individuals and advocating for systemic change to address injustice and inequality, with a focus on the disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities living in poverty. BDS serves thousands of clients annually with complex legal needs, supported by interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers, and advocates who provide a range of services beyond legal defense, including assistance with housing, public benefits, education, and employment. The Criminal Defense Practice specifically represents individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Brooklyn and Queens courts, with staff including attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals. The ideal candidate will be an energetic social worker who can become an integral part of the team, advocating for clients both in and out of court. This role requires creating a safe, nurturing, and non-judgmental environment for clients to discuss sensitive histories of abuse, trafficking, and mental illness.

Requirements

LCSW preferred or LMSW with at least two years’ experience in defense-based social work practice.
Ability to work as part of the defense team in a client-centered practice.
Strong written and verbal advocacy skills.
Knowledge and interest in unique issues impacting female identifying clients.
Experience working with clients with mental illness preferred.
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues on an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to write detailed and persuasive reports that include mitigation as part of the pre-pleading and post-conviction phase of the client’s case.
Strong interpersonal skills in order to engage with family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, and other potential mitigation/defense witnesses to obtain information regarding the client’s background and/or evidence to support the defense of the case or mitigating circumstances.
Knowledge of the psychological, behavioral, and neurological conditions set forth in the DSM-5 as well as understanding of intergenerational and complex traumas.
Strong clinical assessment, crisis intervention, and client advocacy skills
Excellent writing, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

LCSW preferred
Experience working with clients with mental illness preferred

Responsibilities

Partner with two interdisciplinary teams including attorneys and other experts to provide comprehensive legal representation for clients in the Women’s Defense Project as well as those on the Mental Health Team.
Participate in regular client meetings in order to establish a relationship with the client and obtain a history of the client’s experiences. These meetings include visits to incarcerated clients.
Women’s Defense Project: Interview clients in detail about their trafficking and/or trauma history and prepare in-depth, comprehensive reports of the life histories of clients including how trauma, abuse, domestic violence and trafficking affects women and leads to their involvement in the criminal legal system. This may also include interviews of related parties.
Mental Health Team: Interview clients, family members and others with relevant information in order to obtain a full history and understanding of presenting mental illness as well as obtaining and reviewing full medical and mental health records in order to prepare in-depth, comprehensive reports of the life and mental health histories of clients including information regarding the intersection of their mental illness and their involvement in the criminal justice.
Attend court appearances and provide oral advocacy as needed.
Provide emotional support and guidance to clients, as well as crisis intervention when needed.
Maintain and foster relationships with programs.
Maintain case notes and documentation in electronic database.
Additional duties as assigned.