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 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 represent.

Position:

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 and immigrants’ rights to serve as the Deputy Director of the Immigration Practice.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Managing Director of the Immigration Practice, the Deputy Director will have a reduced caseload and be responsible for:

Practice Leadership & Supervision 

•  Support the Managing Director in managing, supporting, and advancing the goals of the Immigration Practice
• Work to provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their work
• Collaborate with the Immigration Legal, Policy, and Training Directors to advance the goals of the Immigration Practice and realize the vision of the Managing Director
• At the request of the Managing Director, represent BxD and the Immigration Practice in external relationships, including with policymakers, media, funders, immigration court and other system stakeholders
• Represent the organization by providing internal and external training on immigration law, the BxD model, and universal representation programs  

Supervision

Supervise immigration supervising attorneys and provide back-up supervisory coverage

Serve as the point person for administrative and substantive practice issues that arise in cases and court proceedings 

Collaborate with the Training Director to foster the professional development of supervisors and implement new and ongoing supervisor training

Practice Operations 

In collaboration with the Managing Director:

Oversee day-to-day day practice operations

Coordinate internal and external programmatic components of NYIFUP, including coordinating with other providers and community-based organizations, managing all aspects of intake and staffing, interfacing with the court and Department of Homeland Security, and engaging in funding advocacy and grant management

Ensure that the team-based and community intake immigration practices are properly staffed and best situated to serve the people we represent and community members, and realize the vision of holistic public defense

Develop best practices for holistic immigration referrals across the office 

Ensure fair and equitable caseloads across the practice

Oversee the transfer of clients’ cases 

Coordinate case coverage when necessary 

Facilitate communication across roles within the immigration practice

Programmatic Reporting, Data & Institutional Knowledge 

Assist with collecting intake and case data for reporting, fundraising, and policy reform purposes

In conjunction with the Immigration Legal and Training Directors, maintain and build institutional knowledge resources, banks, and other supports for the practice

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

Experience as an immigration attorney providing deportation defense and/or advisals and affirmative representation to immigrants targeted by the criminal legal system and/or family regulation system 

Experience supervising attorneys who represent noncitizens at risk of removal

How to Apply:

To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document when prompted. If writing a cover letter is not accessible to you, 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.