Entry Level Attorney, CDP, September 2027

Brooklyn-Defender-Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is hiring an Entry Level Attorney for the Criminal Defense Practice in Brooklyn, starting September 2027. The role focuses on public defense for low-income New Yorkers and involves litigation in Criminal and Supreme Courts with a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.

Under supervision, new attorneys receive comprehensive training and gradually handle more complex cases. Salary is set on a scale with strong benefits, vacation, and leave policies, and

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree anticipated by Sept 2027.
• First NY bar exam after graduation.
• Clinical or public defense internship preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Directly represent clients in Brooklyn Criminal and Supreme Courts from intake through dismissal, plea or trial.
• Foster strong attorney/client relationships.
• Work collaboratively on interdisciplinary case teams with social workers, investigators, paralegals and admins.
• Participate in a rotation to staff court arraignment shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Prepare for and litigate hearings and trials in Criminal and Supreme Courts, as well as collateral administrative tribunals.
• Prepare and argue written motions, argue in court regarding discovery, answer legal motions filed by the District Attorney’s office and other legal written and oral arguments in cases assigned to the attorney.
• Collaborate with other BDS staff from our housing, immigration, family defense and education practices to provide comprehensive assistance to clients.
• Meet regularly with supervisor to review caseload, discuss case strategy, and prepare for trial.
• Be an advisor to the client when decisions are made about the case.
• Meet with family members or other support networks as client requests.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Litigation skills

Communication skills

Multilingual ability

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission NY

Job description

Entry Level Attorney, CDP, September 2027

Brooklyn, NY, US

Salary: $99,910.00 Annually

Entry Level Attorney, Criminal Defense Practice, September 2027, Brooklyn Office

BDS is seeking Entry Level Attorneys to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the Brooklyn Office in September 2027.

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. For nearly 30 years, BDS has worked, in and out of court, to protect and uphold the rights of individuals and to change laws and systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality. Our legal expertise work with clients is focused on the intersections of these legal systems that disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities living in poverty.

BDS represents thousands of people each year who have diverse, complex, and multi-faceted legal needs. In addition to a zealous legal defense, our interdisciplinary teams of attorneys, social workers and advocates provide a wide range of legal and advocacy services, including for housing, public benefits, education, and employment. BDS staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities.

BDS’ Criminal Defense Practice zealously defends people who are accused of a crime in Brooklyn, fighting to protect the individual rights of clients’ and minimize harm from involvement with the criminal legal system. BDS’ staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals who work collaboratively to bring about the best outcome for each client.

Under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney, attorneys directly represent clients who have been arrested and face criminal charges. BDS provides a comprehensive training program for entry-level attorneys. This is followed by a period of time where they handle misdemeanor cases with supervision and then gradually move on to handling more serious cases.

Responsibilities

• Directly represent clients in Brooklyn Criminal and Supreme Courts from intake through dismissal, plea or trial.
• Foster strong attorney/client relationships.
• Work collaboratively on interdisciplinary case teams with social workers, investigators, paralegals and admins.
• Participate in a rotation to staff court arraignment shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Prepare for and litigate hearings and trials in Criminal and Supreme Courts, as well as collateral administrative tribunals.
• Prepare and argue written motions, argue in court regarding discovery, answer legal motions filed by the District Attorney’s office and other legal written and oral arguments in cases assigned to the attorney.
• Collaborate with other BDS staff from our housing, immigration, family defense and education practices to provide comprehensive assistance to clients.
• Meet regularly with supervisor to review caseload, discuss case strategy, and prepare for trial.
• Be an advisor to the client when decisions are made about the case.
• Meet with family members or other support networks as client requests.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree anticipated by the start date of the incoming class in September 2027, ideally with trial advocacy, evidence, ethics, criminal law and criminal procedure courses.
• Have taken the first available bar exam in NY after graduation.
• Experience in a law school clinical program or a public defense internship involving client representation is preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving the public interest, as expressed by coursework, internships and extra-curricular activities.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with interdisciplinary staff members both within the practice and throughout BDS.
• Excellent litigation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in a second language is a plus.

Position Information

This is an exempt, salaried position. The position is based at BDS’s offices, and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. The salary for a 2027 law school graduate is $99,910. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.

Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidatesof all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, atcwallace @ bds.org