Staff Attorney, Impact Litigation Practice
About The Position
The Bronx Defenders (BxD) seeks experienced civil rights litigators to join our Impact Litigation Practice. The Bronx Defenders is a public defender nonprofit that has developed a nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense. Today we are reimagining the role of public defense even further, using community organizing and engagement, legislative advocacy, and impact litigation to partner with the communities we represent to bring about long-lasting systemic change. Our Impact Litigation Practice (ILP) litigates proactive challenges to systemic injustices our clients face. We collaborate with defenders in each BxD practice area to identify litigation and other advocacy projects that will have the greatest practical impact on strengthening our clients’ defense and preventing further legal system involvement. Our current slate of projects includes challenges to the NYPD’s flagrant misuse of sealed arrest records, racially discriminatory policing through an arbitrary gangs database, racially discriminatory family policing by ACS, arbitrary immigration detention, and inhumane conditions of confinement in immigration detention.
Requirements
- Admission to practice law in New York or qualification for admission on motion
- Investigating and drafting complaints/petitions
- Primary authorship of briefs on dispositive motions or preliminary injunctions
- Oral argument, preferably on dispositive motions or preliminary injunctions
- Drafting discovery demands, negotiating discovery disputes with opposing counsel, and/or taking depositions
- Drafting settlement demands or mediation statements, and/or engaging in substantive settlement discussions with a mediator or opposing counsel
- Strong public speaking skills, specifically regarding legal systems confronting BxD clients
Nice To Haves
- Experience representing plaintiffs in civil rights cases
- Experience managing cases as lead counsel
- Knowledge of legal protections specific to BxD clients: rights of New Yorkers that intersect with criminal defense, family defense, eviction defense, immigration defense, property seizure, and reentry issues
- Experience developing legal strategies in coalition with other advocates and/or organizations of people directly impacted by the issues you seek to confront
- Demonstrated success in achieving meaningful change through legal advocacy
Responsibilities
- Investigate law enforcement and legal system practices; recommend strategies (litigation or otherwise) to achieve ILP’s strategic priorities
- Litigate civil rights cases in state and federal court, both as cocounsel and as lead counsel
- Represent BxD in advocacy coalitions and in the media
- Draft non-litigation advocacy materials such as documentary reports
- Help hire and onboard staff and interns
- Support professional development of less experienced staff and interns
Benefits
- Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
