Criminal Defense Practice Supervising Attorney

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. 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.

Armed with that understanding, we fight for desired outcomes by strategically raising personalized, persuasive arguments in mitigation, negotiations, and litigation.

• Represent a reduced caseload in criminal court
• Work a reduced number of arraignment shifts
• Demonstrate best practices in holistic representation and criminal defense

• Supervise approximately 7 criminal defense attorneys, including newly felony trained attorneys
• Provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision and support marginalized supervises in navigating experiences of oppression in their work
• Regularly conference cases with supervises
• Monitor referrals to other practices to ensure holistic representation
• Review supervises’ written work, including signing off on all written work until the attorney is admitted to the New York Bar
• Observe in-court advocacy of supervises and provide timely and constructive feedback and support
• Be available for co-counsel and in-court supervision
• Assist with and review all litigation preparation
• Monitor supervises’ workload to ensure it is equitable and manageable for the supervisee
• Review Legal Server use to ensure data is accurate and up-to-date
• Assist in arranging case coverage
• Approve timesheets and time-off requests
• Supervise case and calendar management, client interaction and relationships with the judiciary and adversaries
• Supervise and encourage collaboration with other advocates and colleagues through case conferencing, coverage, and mooting litigation
• Support supervises in meeting the expectations of their job responsibilities and notify the Managing Director when additional support is necessary

• Represent the interests of the office in the courthouse and be available as a point of contact for the judiciary and adversaries
• Advocate with the judiciary and adversaries on behalf of attorneys and their clients

• Participate in Criminal Defense Practice supervisor meetings
• Work with fellow supervising attorneys and directors to assist with supervision, including in-court-supervision and coverage for staff attorneys
• Assist in the evaluation of attorneys and advocates every 12 months
• Assist in the development of best practices, new trainings, projects and initiatives in the practice area
• Assist with internal and external trainings and breakout sessions for CDP advocates, BxD staff, and external partners
• Advance holistic advocacy on the team and in the office

• Minimum of 5 years working as a criminal defense attorney in a public defender office, including experience practicing criminal defense in New York State
• Membership in good standing or eligibility for prompt admission to the New York Bar

• Commitment to directly defending people ensnared in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal systems
• Commitment to challenging systemic injustice and carceral systems with fierce advocacy; strategically challenging authority in defense of the people we represent
• Experience working in and with racially and ethnically marginalized communities of color targeted by systemic injustice
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people from various backgrounds and experiences
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non‑lawyers
• Effective research, writing, and courtroom advocacy skills
• Strong legal analytical skills and the capacity to employ non‑legal resources to support the people we represent
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced, high‑stakes environment
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to think critically and…