Staff Attorney, Youth Defense Practice, Queens

Job DetailsLevel: EntryJob Location: Queens - Jamaica, NYPosition Type: Full-TimeEducation Level: Law Degree (JD)Salary Range: $86800.00 - $128400.00 Salary/yearTravel Percentage: NegligibleJob Category: LegalDescriptionThe Center for Family Representation Inc. (CFR) is an award-winning, innovative law and policy organization that serves primarily Black and Brown families and youth in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island with an interdisciplinary legal defense model that serves more than 2400 clients every year. CFR was originally founded in 2002 to dramatically change the trajectory of indigent parents being prosecuted by the City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Our goal is to defend and protect our clients’ rights, reduce the harm of family separation and prevent or minimize the time any child spends in the foster system.As an agency committed to securing justice for families, we built theYouth Defense practice (YDP)to defend youth at risk of family separation through incarceration. YDP uses the same interdisciplinary model to represent youth being prosecuted in Queens and Manhattan in Supreme Court Youth Parts, during Probation Adjustment and in Delinquency proceedings in Family Court. CFR’s Home for Good program provides legal and social work services to CFR clients inimmigration, civil legal services and criminal defense matters, to afford clients an efficient and well-coordinated one-stop solution to a range of issues that threaten family stability.Recognized as experts in our fields,we annually train over 500 practitioners in the city, state and around the countryon strategies to promote family preservation and interdisciplinary representation, and we provide community based “Know Your Rights” presentations to parents, youth and service providers. We advocate at the city, state and national level for policies that reduce the harm of family separation, and promote parent engagement and justice for youth and families.CFR has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney in its Youth Defense Practice (YDP).Under the supervision and guidance of CFR’s Youth Defense Supervisors, the Staff Attorney’s core responsibilities will be to represent clients charged on juvenile delinquency matters in Family Court, as well as clients charged as adolescent and juvenile offenders (AO and JO) on cases in the Supreme Court Youth Parts whose cases are being removed to family court.The candidate will receive training on youth and family defense.The candidate will work collaboratively with legal teams, composed of attorneys, social work staff, investigators, and paralegals (clients’ legal teams may also involve staff from CFR’s immigration or housing/public benefits units).The position will be based out of Queens.The candidate should also expect to maintain new and evolving youth defense data in Case Management System and client legal notes; keep files up to date; keep additional data related to deliverables for private funders supporting the Youth Defense Practice, and/or to meet with prospective and current funders; and help to inform and grow CFR’s Youth Defense Practice. This person may also participate in community based outreach and presentations for families whose youth are impacted by or are at risk of juvenile justice involvement.The ideal candidate will enjoy the opportunity to wear multiple hats, learn a lot and enjoy working with teams.Salary information:Salary range: $86,800 (L1)- $128,400 (L18)QualificationsEligibility and Qualifications:Candidates for this position should be admitted to the bar and have a minimum of 1 years of experience as an attorney.Candidates for this position do not need to have any direct experience working with children but candidates should have some experience working in family and/or criminal court or other relevant legal experience.Candidates who are bilingual in Spanish, or another language, are strongly encouraged to apply.Candidates should be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, an ability to work as part of a team and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor.Apply:Candidates should apply through CFR’s Career Portal. #J-18808-Ljbffr