About this role
Arraignment Paralegal, Criminal Defense Unit
Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking an Arraignment Paralegal to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the Brooklyn office.
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 the Director of Administrative Support, the Arraignment Paralegal provides support to Brooklyn Defender Services staff and clients in criminal arraignment court. Arraignment is the first appearance made before a judge after arrest. At that time, a BDS attorney will be assigned to interview and represent the client and a bail application will be made at that time. The Arraignment Paralegal supports this work by obtaining paperwork, assuring cases are being interviewed, keeping track of client outcomes, entering cases in the case management system and interacting with family members and clients, if they are released.
Responsibilities
- The Arraignment Paralegal is based in court during the arraignment shifts where multiple attorneys interview clients who were arrested over the past 24 hours.
- The arraignment paralegal is responsible for keeping up with the cases as they are being given to BDS for interviews of clients and preparing them for the attorneys as well as assuring