Overview

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, community-oriented, holistic defense office in the South Bronx – seeks two advocates with a commitment to social justice to work as Benefits Advocates in the Civil Action Practice.

BxD is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how marginalized people in the Bronx are represented in legal systems, 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 an interdisciplinary referral practice made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, advocates, investigators, and team administrators, all of whom collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement and to create access to rights and services. Through this integrated referral-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves important outcomes for the people we represent.

Each year, we defend over 20,000 Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, engagement, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national level. 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.

Civil Action Practice

Our Civil Action Practice provides comprehensive legal services to the people we represent and their families by fully integrating civil representation, benefit services and advocacy with our criminal, family and immigration defense practices; providing the right to counsel in housing court; and providing community facing services and education.

Civil Holistic Defense Team

Our goal is to minimize the severe and often unforeseen fallout from criminal, family and immigration court proceedings and facilitate the seamless reintegration of the people we represent into the community. Our Civil Action Practice advocates represent and advocate for impacted people in every forum in New York City – administrative, state, and federal – and provide comprehensive representation to assist the people we represent in overcoming civil legal barriers to housing, eviction, employment, and public benefits, as well as addressing instances of police misconduct, criminal record errors, and civil forfeiture. In addition to providing these services, The Bronx Defenders has a team exclusively dedicated to providing tenants at risk of losing their homes with defense attorneys for their Housing Court cases. Lastly, we provide community benefit services in our office three times a week. 

The Benefits Access and Advocacy Team

The Bronx Defenders Benefits Team provides benefits access in three main ways: first, they support thousands of community walk-ins and callers to our benefits hotline each year, helping them apply, recertify and advocate for crucial public benefits. Second, the Benefits Team works directly with our Right to Counsel (RTC) Housing Team to help tenants secure emergency rental arrears, housing subsidies and housing benefits and relocation resources. Lastly, our team provides support for benefits-related referrals from our criminal, family and immigration practices and provides expertise to enable access to benefits for people who face barriers from criminal court involvement, immigration issues or involvement in the family regulation system.

Responsibilities

The Civil Action Practice seeks Benefits Advocates to assist the people we represent in obtaining, recertifying and advocating for a wide range of life-sustaining public benefits. Benefits Advocates will work with the community, the Right to Counsel Housing team, Advocates in CAP and will support interdisciplinary benefits needs from the criminal, family and immigration practices.

The Benefits Advocate will:

  • Screen, complete applications for and refer the people we represent and community members for eligibility and interest in public benefits, including, but not limited to:
  • Access to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and food pantries
  • Cash Assistance
  • Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) and other housing benefits
  • Employment assistance
  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) federal assistance program
  • Medicare and Medicaid
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Childcare benefits
  • Utility benefits
  • Transit assistance
  • Lifeline/phones
  • Staff Community Benefits Hotline
  • Conduct eligibility assessment, case planning, application completion and case advocacy using a comprehensive and holistic approach for the people we represent and community members
  • Engage in advocacy to obtain benefits, including correspondence with agency, conciliation, fair hearings and reapplication
  • Participate in collaborative meetings within The Bronx Defenders and with stakeholders, other community-based organizations and government agencies including the NYC Human Resource Administration, the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance and various benefits cohorts to share feedback on benefits needs and support benefit inquiries
  • Collaborate with and support attorneys and advocates in the civil, criminal, family and immigration practices by:
  • Responding to benefits-based referrals
  • Supporting benefits screenings, applications and advocacy
  • Supporting benefits application submission
  • Assist in developing public benefits educational and outreach materials for internal and external audiences
  • Participate in funder meetings regarding benefits needs
  • Keep abreast of and notify the practice of changes to the public benefits landscape
  • Assist in maintaining systems of data collection and case management systems to track benefits work including, but not limited to:
  • Entering and maintaining accurate client data
  • Tracking information and notes regarding informal and formal advocacy
  • Assist in development and facilitation of internal and external trainings and presentations related to benefits work
  • Identify creative ways to offer support and technical assistance to external agencies and service providers
  • Engage in community outreach across NYC to inform community members about BxD’s services and projects, and to develop relationships with service providers that can assist the people we represent community members
  • Support and participate in pipelines, including intern trainings, supervision and mentorship
  • Help identify the systemic problems that affect the people we represent while thinking creatively about new strategies and solutions for strategic change

Support initiatives related to policy, communications, legislation, organizing, and system reform advocacy

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have: 

  • Spanish Proficiency

Candidate must demonstrate: 

  • Commitment to public interest, human services, and/or civil rights
  • Experience with public benefits, civil legal services and the reentry community
  • A demonstrated interest in promoting cultural consciousness within organizations and institutions the people we represent navigate
  • Experience working in and with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities
  • Experience working in and with racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities targeted by carceral legal systems
  • Unwavering commitment to social justice
  • Ability to communicate effectively with people from various backgrounds, identities and experiences
  • Strong active listening and interpersonal skills
  • Effective organization, time management, and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to multitask effectively and work well under pressure while adhering to stringent deadlines
  • Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
  • Meticulous attention to detail
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with people across technical and non-technical roles
  • Ability to receive critical feedback constructively, reflect, and shift behavior accordingly
  • Good judgment in zealous advocacy and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent
  • Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level
  • Experience in and working knowledge of specific public benefits and applications is preferred but not required 

This is a primarily in-person position.

Salary is commensurate with experience.   For candidates with 1-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $52,623 to $57,867. 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.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders’ staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 – Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit. 

This position is non-exempt. By law, non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.