Social Worker, new Texas Public Defender office

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Job location
San Marcos, TX 78666
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Neighborhood Defender Service
Street address: 
3201 Cherry Ridge Dr, D-401
City: 
San Antonio
State: 
Texas
ZIP: 
78230
Organization URL: 
https://neighborhooddefender.org
Job type: 
Other
Position Description: 

Neighborhood Defender Service is creating NDS Hays County, a new nonprofit, client-centered, collaborative, holistic public defense office to provide criminal defense representation and related services to residents of Hays County, Texas. The office will open in January 2023.

Clients are represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the case concludes.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence.
2. Provide vigorous support with energy and enthusiasm to clients.
3. Work closely with team members to advocate for reduced sentences and/or alternatives to incarceration for clients. This advocacy includes:
• Gathering factual mitigation through interviews and obtaining records;
• Analyzing records;
• Researching and recommending alternatives to incarceration;
• Writing pre-pleading memoranda to judges and prosecutors seeking reduced sentences and alternatives to incarceration.
4. Work closely with clients to:
• Make appropriate referrals to address clients’ social service needs (drug treatment, mental health treatment, housing, and other benefits);
• Assist clients in navigating available social service agencies;
• Advocate on behalf of clients to social service agencies.
5. Advocate orally on behalf of clients to judges, programs, and prosecutors.
6. Provide supervision, coaching, and direction to the Client Advocate.

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Exceptional benefits package includes full medical and dental for employee and family, retirement, life and AD&D insurance, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.

Requirements: 

The ideal candidates will bring:

1. A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, racial equity, and social justice issues, and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
2. An ability to quickly build relationships with people of varying identities, income levels, races, and ethnicities.
3. A high level of organization and administrative skills to handle a high caseload and multi-task in a very fast-paced environment.
4. Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
5. An ability to work cooperatively in a team setting.
6. An MSW degree.
7. Spanish language fluency is preferred by not required.

To apply: 

Interviews are being held on a rolling basis, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line, “Hays Social Worker.”

Notes: 
For more information about NDS, please visit our website at www.neighborhooddefender.org. Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS values and specifically seeks applicants who are people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non‐ conforming, and gender fluid people.

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