Associate General Counsel

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an experienced attorney with a commitment to social justice to join us as a Staff Attorney in the Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”).

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, individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 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, family , 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.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys,

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Staff Attorney will work as part of the OGC team to provide advice and legal representation on a broad range of legal and strategic issues affecting the organization. The goal of the OGC is to help The Bronx Defenders achieve its mission while assessing and managing organizational risk. This position involves direct engagement with all levels of staff, including the BxD Board, leadership, staff, and external partners, vendors, and counsel.

• Support the People and Culture department in labor and employment matters
  • Advise and assist on employment and labor matters with an approach that appropriately balances compliance, risk management, and values-alignment
  • Review and provide guidance on proposed policies, projects, agreements, communications, and ongoing programmatic work
• Support BxD’s transactional and operational affairs
  • Review, negotiate, and draft various corporate contracts and other legal documents
  • Ensure compliance with state, federal, and local laws and internal policies, including tax laws and regulations applicable to 501(c)(3) organizations
• Support management of organizational legal affairs
  • Advise and assist on intellectual property matters, charitable solicitation registration, and lobbying and political activity including, but not limited to, lobbying reporting
• Work As a board liaison between the Board of Directors and OGC
  • Manage board materials including, but not limited to, creating agendas and disbursing conflicts of interest forms
  • Take minutes at committee meetings and board meetings
  • Assist with scheduling board committee meetings
  • Assist with board governance compliance
• Conduct comprehensive research and analysis on diverse issues relevant to The Bronx Defenders’ programs and initiatives as complex issues arise
• Work with and supervise outside counsel, retained and pro bono

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• A minimum of 3 years practicing law as an attorney
• J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school
• Admission to the New York bar or eligibility for pro hac vice admission at the time of hiring

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Commitment to social justice work and issues affecting low-income individuals impacted by the criminal, family, immigration and civil legal systems
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
• Leadership style that is empathetic, collaborative, and responsive
• Communication style that is transparent, constructive, and direct
• Awareness of how race, class, power, and privilege affect the lives of and our relationships with the people we represent, the Bronx community, and colleagues
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various roles, backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with a diverse set of stakeholders at various organizational levels
• Ability to clearly communicate goals and strategy with outside individuals and firms
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

Preferred, but not required:

• Experience providing General Counsel advice to non-profits
• Substantive experience with contracts and employment/labor law
• At least 5 years experience practicing law as an attorney

This position will require in-person work and contact with staff and community members. This position is not 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 overtime pay, whereas exempt employees are not.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 3-10 directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position is $95,000-$118,000. 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.

To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document when prompted. If you would prefer to send in a video or audio 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. 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 statement, but not both, and applications without either will not be considered.

Applications will be accepted through April 18, 2024. Please contact Erin Schechter, Associate General Counsel, via email at Erins@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.