Overview
The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an experienced trial attorney to join our Homicide Practice Group (HPG) as a Senior Attorney.
The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative, energetic individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 450 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally-recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend.
Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, child welfare, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities that we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.
The Criminal Defense Practice
The Criminal Defense Practice (CDP) at The Bronx Defenders consists of over 150 attorneys, investigators, social workers, practice associates, and administrators who provide comprehensive criminal defense representation to people in the Bronx facing police and criminal legal system involvement. Our interdisciplinary holistic teams work to identify and address issues that contribute to the ensnarement of the people we represent in the criminal legal system and mitigate the enmeshed consequences that arise out of their contact with the system. Through a client-centered approach, our CDP legal teams strive to gain a deeper understanding of the circumstances and priorities of the people we represent. Equipped with that understanding, they fight for desired outcomes by strategically raising personalized, persuasive arguments in mitigation, negotiations, and litigation.
Homicide Practice Group
The Bronx Defenders Homicide Practice Group (HPG) understands that the world of homicide defense is rapidly changing. The presentation of video evidence, DNA results, and cell phone location data means that it is no longer sufficient for homicide defenders to only know how to effectively cross-examine an experienced police detective. Juries today come into the courtroom with far different perceptions of forensics, criminality, and the criminal justice system than those of the past. Issues of gender, race, and ethnicity percolate through jurors’ minds in ways we are only beginning to understand. These ever-changing dynamics make it necessary for the Homicide Practice Group to be willing to grapple with these issues, be flexible in their approach to litigation and mentorship, and be committed to keeping up with the rapidly evolving landscape of public defense. The Homicide Practice Group is made up of a team of experienced CDP attorneys, social workers, mitigation specialists, and investigators who specialize in homicide cases. While it is a specific group of senior practitioners, HPG is committed to encouraging a wide range of attorneys with varying levels of litigation experience to become involved in homicide work.
Responsibilities
Homicide attorneys in the Homicide Practice Group work collaboratively with other attorneys and advocates at BxD to support the work of the Criminal Defense Practice. The Senior Attorney will report directly to the Homicide Practice Group Director.
- Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiations as part of legal representation
- Participate in homicide on-call intake shifts and appear at arraignments, including on nights and weekends, in which new homicide cases are assigned to The Bronx Defenders
- Represent people charged with homicide and serious felony offenses, from intake through disposition or trial
- Identify holistic needs, make referrals, and collaborate with attorneys and advocates to address and mitigate the enmeshed consequences of legal system involvement
- Effectively litigate, confidently negotiate and skillfully advocate with judges, prosecutors, and other actors on behalf of the people we represent
- Co-counsel cases with other attorneys Case conference with attorneys and advocates on the HPG team
- Advance holistic advocacy within the team and in the office
- Demonstrate a commitment to anti-oppression work in the practice and office
- Stay abreast of evolving homicide law
- Maintain case files and data in BxD’s case management system
Work night and weekend arraignments, as scheduled
Qualifications
To be eligible, candidates must have:
- Membership in good standing to the New York Bar or eligibility for immediate admission to the New York Bar
- Sufficient experience to meet the Homicide Attorney requirements of the First Department including:
- Experience advocating in over sixty felony cases, from arraignment to resolution, having resolved at least ten criminal cases post-indictment with negotiated pleas, dismissals, or other non-trial dispositions
- At least ten preliminary hearings or fifteen post-indictment hearings in which oral testimony was taken and a decision was rendered
- At least five post-indictment jury trials that proceeded to verdict as lead or sole counsel
- At least eight post-indictment jury trials that proceeded to verdicts as co-counsel
- Cross-examination at trial of at least four of the following types of expert witnesses: medical, ballistics, fingerprint, DNA, psychiatric, identification
Candidates must demonstrate:
- Commitment to representing people charged with homicide offenses
- Commitment to holistic, interdisciplinary and client-centered representation
- Experience working in and with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities
- Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
- Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers
- Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of clients
- Effective research, writing and courtroom advocacy skills
- Strong analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources in cases
- Experience working with and challenging experts, particularly in the area of forensic science
- Ability to effectively analyze legal issues, draft motions and memoranda, and orally argue for relief
- Ability to advocate and persuade effectively in court appearances and interactions with adversaries, judges, and juries
- Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
- Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
- Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
- Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level
- Prior homicide work in a public defender office is preferred, but not required
Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 5-20 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $86,600 – $121,790. 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; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.
Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders’ staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 – Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit.
This position is exempt. By law, nonexempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.
To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document when prompted. Your cover letter should include the number of trials conducted to verdicts, specifying whether the matter was a felony or a misdemeanor, whether you were sole or lead counsel (or second seat), the number of homicide matters handled and the number of homicide trials conducted to verdicts. If you would prefer to send in an audio/video statement in lieu of a cover letter, you may upload your resume as a document and separately upload a video or audio statement instead of a cover letter if that is more accessible to you. Your cover letter or video/audio statement should share why you want to do this work at our office, some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position, and any additional information you would like for us to consider. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized on your resume. Please remember that you may submit a written cover letter or an audio/video, but not both, and applications without either will not be considered.
Applications will be accepted and interviews will be conducted virtually on a rolling basis. Please contact Ann Mathews, Managing Director of the Criminal Defense Practice, via email at annm@bronxdefenders.org with any questions regarding the position.
The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating an anti-oppressive workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we work with.