General Counsel

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive non-profit providing holistic defense, legal representation and advocacy to thousands of indigent clients in the South Bronx – seeks an experienced attorney with a demonstrated commitment to social justice to join us as General Counsel.

Established in 1997, The Bronx Defenders developed its groundbreaking model of representation known as holistic defense with the goal of radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system. BxD’s dynamic and diverse staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide clients with multi-dimensional, holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, BxD has won national recognition for its holistic model of public defense, which achieves better outcomes for the people we defend while striving to bring about transformational change in the system itself.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Our staff consists of thoughtful and creative individuals united by a deep commitment to social justice. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national levels. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors, the General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel to the organization’s leadership on critical legal, strategic, and public policy issues facing BxD. The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the organization and a member of the BxD executive management team. In that capacity, the General Counsel also advises the Board of Directors directly on legal matters and is responsible for ensuring that the Board is apprised of material legal developments and risks. The General Counsel supports the organization’s leadership to ensure compliance with applicable law and uphold high standards of ethics, integrity, and equity throughout the organization’s operations. The General Counsel assists leadership in strategically managing legal risks in all aspects of decision-making; providing legal expertise in the development of innovative programs and initiatives; and providing responsive and constructive general legal support to the organization’s entire staff. The Bronx Defenders is a unionized workplace; approximately 70% of the staff are members of the union.

Non-Profit/Charitable Organization Operations

• Ensure compliance with legal restrictions applicable to charitable organizations and New York not-for-profit corporations
• Provide guidance on governance procedures and fiduciary responsibilities
• Assist with regulatory reporting and approvals
• Help incorporate best practices into all aspects of governance and operations

Ethics And Practice

• Resolve questions of interpretation under rules of professional conduct
• Oversee management and defense of professional responsibility claims
• Provide training and resources on organizational legal matters for legal staff
• Provide training and legal support to ensure compliance with confidentiality, conflicts, and practice of law requirements applicable to non-lawyer members of cross-disciplinary client representation teams

Labor And Employment

• Maintain, update and interpret BxD employee handbook and other policies and procedures
• Support People & Culture in interpreting the BxD collective bargaining agreement and handling union grievances
• Train staff on legal compliance and risk management issues
• Provide guidance on employment-related matters including legal requirements, leaves, accommodations, benefits administration, equity and inclusion, harassment and discrimination, and employee privacy

Transactional and Operational

• Review, negotiate and draft agreements, including those with vendors, funders,   partner organizations, and litigation agreements
• Support the operations team on real estate and facilities matters
• Review and advise on sensitive draft communications
• Monitor and enforce intellectual property rights
• Advise on compliance with lobbying rules and restrictions on political activity
• Advise the Information Technology (IT) team regarding compliance with legal requirements concerning data, data sharing, security and technology
• Advise the Development team on charitable solicitation guidelines and registrations

Internal and External Legal Affairs

• Manage insurance responses to claims
• Support the Chief Operating Officer to manage insurance policies and claims
• Manage organizational responses to investigations and subpoenas
• Supervise outside counsel

Work with the Board of Directors

• Ensure compliance with corporate governance laws and best practices
• Advise the Board on legal risks and issues potentially requiring Board direction or other action
• Facilitate Board and Board committee communications
• Prepare Board meeting materials and minutes
• Oversee maintenance of corporate records

Office of The General Counsel (OGC)

• Lead and direct the OGC
• Supervise and support OGC staff with an emphasis on professional development
• Provide equitable, culturally conscious supervision, and support marginalized supervisees in navigating experiences of oppression in their work
• Stay up to date on relevant laws and regulations and ensure OGC staff receive proper training

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
• Admission to the New York bar or eligibility for pro hac admission at the time of hiring

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Commitment to social justice work and issues affecting low-income individuals impacted by the criminal, family, immigration and civil legal systems 
• Commitment to holistic defense and client centered representation
• Experience working in or with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities
• Understanding of how race, class, power, and privilege affect the lives of and our relationships with clients, the Bronx community, and colleagues 
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Ability to collaborate with, communicate goals to and strategize with outside individuals and firms 
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with people at various organizational levels 
• Strong legal research and analytical skills 
• Ability to proactively issue spot and develop legal strategies and solutions
• Empathetic, collaborative and responsive leadership style
• Transparent, constructive and direct communication style
• Working legal knowledge of:
  • Charitable/non-profit organizations
  • Legal ethics and the practice of law
  • State and federal labor and employment law
  • Contracts
• Supervisory and mentoring skills, including:
• Interest in and commitment to developing and mentoring supervisees
• Ability to provide intentional and constructive feedback
  • Flexibility in balancing needs of supervisees against their own personal workload
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Meticulous attention to detail 
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

The following are preferred, but not required:

• 7+ years of experience providing legal support to comparable legal services organizations or nonprofits
• Legal familiarity with:
  • Government contracts
  • Charitable solicitations
  • Torts and insurance
  • Lobbying compliance
  • Commercial real estate
  • Data and technology
  • Intellectual property

This is a hybrid position that will require a minimum of 21 hours of in-office work per week.

Salary is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position would be approximately $225,000-$275,000. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is not within the bargaining unit.  

This position is exempt. By law, nonexempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not. 

Applications will be accepted through September 25, 2024. Please contact Wesley Caines, Interim Executive Director, via email at wesleyc@bronxdefenders.org with any questions regarding the position. 

The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating an anti-oppressive workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we work with.