Description:

CFR has an immediate opening for a Senior Staff Attorney in its Youth Defense Practice (YDP) in Bronx Family Court.

Under the supervision and guidance of CFR's Youth Defense Director and Supervisors, the Senior Staff Attorney's core responsibilities will be to represent clients charged on juvenile delinquency (JD) and Person in Need of Supervision (PINS) matters in Family Court.

The candidate will work collaboratively with legal teams, composed of attorneys, social work staff, an investigator, and paralegals (clients' legal teams may also involve staff from CFR's immigration or housing/public benefits units).

Senior Staff Attorneys may supervise one or two staff attorneys, so prior supervisory experience, even if informal, is preferred. Senior Staff Attorneys also write professional development reviews, periodically coordinate case practice and attorney workgroup meetings, and from time to time, develop practice materials useful for staff at CFR.

The candidate should also expect to maintain new and evolving youth defense data in CMS and client legal notes; keep files up to date; keep additional data related to deliverables for private funders supporting the Youth Defense Practice, and/or to meet with prospective and current funders; and help to inform and grow CFR's Youth Defense Practice. This role will occasionally require the candidate to support and cover in other boroughs when emergencies arise. The candidate may be asked to assist in training new staff and in other continuing legal education and the stewardship of the Bronx Youth Defense Practice in partnership with their social work counterpart. This person should expect to participate in community based outreach and presentations for youth and families who are impacted by or are at risk of juvenile justice involvement as needed.

The ideal candidate will enjoy the opportunity to wear multiple hats, learn a lot and enjoy working with teams.

Qualifications:

Candidates should be able to practice law in the state of New York.
Candidates for this position should have a minimum of 3 years experience representing indigent clients in juvenile delinquency proceedings, matters in the Youth Part, or other relevant legal experience, and/or adult criminal defense, including representation of clients on pre-trial suppression hearings, trial, sentencing and or disposition hearings, on both misdemeanor and felony cases.
Candidates who are bilingual in Spanish, or another language, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, an ability to work as part of a team and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor.