About this role

Brooklyn Defender Services seeks a Legal Assistant to join the Adolescent Team in the Criminal Defense Practice in the Jamaica Queens 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 multifaceted 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.
The Criminal Defense Practice represents and protects the legal rights of people who are arrested. Our staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrative professionals, and clerical staff.

Open, update, and close cases in our digital case management system.
Answer phones and route callers to the appropriate person or unit to assist them.
Mail client letters, scan mail, assemble and redact documents in Adobe Acrobat.
Draft medical and education records requests and follow up with hospitals, schools, and the police department to obtain the records.
Conduct conflict checks for new clients, draft client letters, and contact service providers to obtain letters for clients.
Assist with court filings in person at Family Court.
Follow BDS policies regarding confidentiality to safeguard client information.
Additional duties as assigned.

Legal Assistant