Paralegal, Social Work Unit

New York County Defender Services (NYCDS) is a nonprofit criminal defense law firm for the City and State of New York. What began in 1997 as a small but ambitious criminal defense firm has grown into the second largest criminal defense firm in Manhattan handling over 20,000 cases per year. The goal of NYCDS has always been to provide the highest quality criminal representation for those ensnared in the criminal justice system. A mission like this requires an unyielding desire to serve. With a staff of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals and administrative professionals, we strive to provide the greatest good for our clients which not only includes legal representation but also assisting clients with an array of social services. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website:www.nycds.org.

Job Overview:Through a client centered representation lens, the social work unit is responsible for conducting client assessments, making referrals to treatment programs and social service providers, drafting pre-pleading and pre-sentencing memoranda and working with attorneys at various phases throughout the duration of the criminal case. The office employs a team-based client centered representation model that incorporates outstanding interdisciplinary work and strategic decision-making. The Paralegal for this unit, also known as, the Parasocial will assist in all social work aspects of defense strategies. This is a two-year position with an option for a third year of employment.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting needs assessments with clients and providing targeted program referrals
• Facilitating client connections to supportive services, including mental health treatment, substance use treatment, vocational programming, housing, etc
• Obtaining program compliance letters for court personnel
• Requesting relevant records, which often include those from Correctional Health Services and hospital records
• Drafting subpoenas
• Reviewing and summarizing relevant records
• Escorting clients upon release from jail or within the community to assigned programs
• Attending court appearances to support clients and advocate for their needs
• Performing wellness checks with incarcerated clients
• Participating in various trainings throughout the office
• Attending regular supervision and peer meetings
  
  

Additional duties include:

• Sending clothing/books, etc. to incarcerated clients or bringing items to court
• Conducting research related to mental health and substance use issues
• Corresponding with clients or family members to obtain case-related information
• Researching and identifying out of city and language-specific programming for clients
• Possibility of writing mitigation notes and other written advocacy with supervision
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Ideal candidates must possess the temperament to work on time sensitive and intense cases
• Candidates should have excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Public defense social work experience and/or experience working in and with racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities targeted by carceral systems.
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with external service partners and providers
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and incorporate growth-oriented changes to improve performance.
• Capacity maintain discretion and uphold confidentiality in handling sensitive matters
• Spanish language speaker is a plus.
  
  

Candidates must also demonstrate:

• A commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the unit and the office at large.
• Strong engagement, interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate, and connect with people with various backgrounds, gender and sexual identities, ethnicities, experiences, and areas of expertise
• Aptitude to meet stringent deadlines
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, be proactive and resourceful,and remain calm under pressure
  
  

Annual Salary: $55,000 - $57,000 with benefits (medical, dental, 403(b) retirement plan, & paid time off)

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