CRIMINAL DEFENSE PRACTICE – HOMICIDE UNIT MITIGATION SOCIAL WORKER

CRIMINAL DEFENSE PRACTICE – HOMICIDE UNIT
MITIGATION SOCIAL WORKER

BDS is a public defense office representing low-income New Yorkers in criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal matters. Our work with clients is focused on the intersection of the legal systems that disproportionately impact people in Brooklyn who are primarily Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) living below the poverty level.

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 housing, public benefits, education, and employment issues. BDS is a public defense office where staff work collaboratively and across disciplines to deliver high-quality legal services that serve the people we represent, their families and communities in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Defender Services is accepting applications for a Mitigation Social Worker to work in the Homicide Unit. The Mitigation Social Worker will work as part of the defense team and assist defense counsel and the client throughout all phases of the criminal prosecution.

Responsibilities
• Partner with attorneys to provide comprehensive legal representation and determine case strategy to clients in criminal legal proceedings.
• Gather all documentation relevant to the defense or mitigation of the client’s case including education, employment, medical, psychological, military, prison, and other information.
• Compile and assess materials, as well as develop long term relationships with clients and family members to assist defense counsel in plea negotiations, trial preparation and sentencing advocacy.
• Responsible for preparing in-depth, comprehensive reports of the life histories of clients.
• Conduct extensive interviews of the client and their families to get a full picture of the client for the purpose of plea bargaining, trial defense and preparation and sentencing advocacy.
• Conduct in-person interviews with incarcerated clients as well as occasional court appearances.
• Provide emotional support and guidance to the accused and family during the pendency of the case.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed.

Qualifications
• New York State Licensed Social Work degree- LCSW with a minimum of three years of professional criminal defense social work experience. LMSW candidates will be considered.
• The ability to work as part of the defense team in a client-centered practice and maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained while working on the case.
• The desire and dedication to analyze all aspects of a client’s life that bear upon his/her current circumstance.
• The ability to obtain and analyze client records including, but not limited to,
• education, employment, medical, psychological, military and prison documents.
• Ability to take responsibility for a caseload of clients with varying needs and case-related deadlines, ensuring timely action and intervention.
• The ability to engage with family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, and other potential mitigation/defense witnesses to obtain information regarding the client’s background and/or evidence to support the defense of the case or mitigating circumstances.
• Ability to write detailed and persuasive reports that include mitigation as part of the pre-pleading and post-conviction phase of the client’s case
• Knowledge of the psychological, behavioral, and neurological diseases and disorders set forth in the DSM-5 and intergenerational trauma.
• Strong clinical assessment skills
• Desire to provide emotional support and guidance to the client and family during the pendency of the criminal case.
• Excellent writing, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.

Position Information
This is a full-time, non-exempt, salaried position. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS’s offices and the courts located in Downtown Brooklyn. Applicants should be prepared to move flexibly between in-person and remote work as policies and needs shift. All BDS employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or be eligible for a religious or health exemption.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range from $65,000 to $84,500, depending upon education and experience. 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.

Application Instructions

Click HERE to submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

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