NLADA-NDS Access to Justice VISTA, San Marcos, TX

Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a nonprofit public defense organization that pioneered the holistic defense model, integrating criminal defense with civil legal services, social work and client engagement. Founded in Harlem in 1990, NDS now operates offices in New York, Detroit and Texas, representing tens of thousands of people annually. Beyond direct services, NDS is building a national portfolio of strategic work: developing reentry and workforce pathways for people impacted by the legal system;

formalizing holistic defense as an educational framework through academic partnerships with universities in Mississippi, Texas and Florida; contributing to the development of international public defense standards; and exploring partnerships domestically and internationally to adapt its model to new contexts. This VISTA position supports the CEO team in advancing that portfolio. The member will conduct research, draft grant materials, coordinate with academic and organizational partners and produce strategic documents that strengthen NDS’s capacity to grow and maintain these initiatives.

It is a chance to work at the intersection of public defense, policy and organizational strategy.

• Conduct research on holistic defense models, reentry programming and international public defense standards
• draft concept notes and partnership proposals for academic and international collaborators
• map and catalog external partners in organized databases
• create presentations, fact sheets and briefing memos for strategic initiatives
• synthesize complex program and policy ideas into clear documents for the CEO team and external audiences
• coordinate logistics for academic research collaborations and site visits
• draft executive summaries on initiative progress
• compile a research compendium for ongoing use by leadership.

• Training
• Childcare assistance if eligible
• Relocation Allowance
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Living Allowance
• Health Coverage*
• Education award upon successful completion of service
• For details about Ameri Corps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit  .

Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours .

• Public Safety
• Community and Economic Development
• Community Outreach
• Ex-Offender Reentry.

• Environment
• Communications
• Writing/Editing
• Law
• Non-Profit Management

Ameri Corps VISTA

NLADA-NDS Access to Justice VISTA, San Marcos, TX

09/08/2026 - 09/08/2027

Full Time

College graduate

Minimum: 18 Maximum:
None

TEXAS

From 05/28/2026 To 09/01/2026