Staff Attorney, Early Defense

Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island - New York, NY 10013Position Type: Full-TimeEducation Level: Graduate School DegreeSalary Range: $86,800.00 - $107,500.00 Salary/yearTravel Percentage: NegligibleJob Category: Legal  The Center for Family Representation Inc. (CFR) is an award-winning, innovative law and policy organization that serves primarily Black and Brown families and youth in Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx with an interdisciplinary legal defense model that serves more than 2400 clients every year. CFR was originally founded in 2002 to dramatically change the trajectory of indigent parents being prosecuted by the City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Our goal is to defend and protect our clients’ rights, reduce the harm of family separation and prevent or minimize the time any child spends in the foster system. CFR provides interdisciplinary family defense with a model that was unique at our founding and that is now being replicated nationally: we assign every client an attorney and a social work staff member, and teams have the support of parent advocates, who are parents with direct personal experience of being investigated and prosecuted by ACS. CFR’s Early Defense Practice represents parents during a child protective investigation (to avoid court involvement where possible) and our SCR practice assists parents in clearing their names from state maltreatment records.   As an agency committed to securing justice for families, we built the Youth Defense practice (YDP) to defend youth at risk of family separation through incarceration. YDP uses the same interdisciplinary model to represent youth being prosecuted in Queens and Manhattan in Supreme Court Youth Parts, during Probation Adjustment and in Delinquency proceedings in Family Court. CFR’s Home for Good program provides legal and social work services to clients in immigration, civil legal services and criminal defense matters, to afford clients an efficient and well-coordinated one-stop solution to a range of issues that threaten family stability.   Recognized as experts in our fields, we annually train over 500 practitioners in the city, state and around the country on strategies to promote family preservation and interdisciplinary representation, and we provide community based “Know Your Rights” presentations to parents, youth and service providers. We advocate at the city, state and national level for policies that reduce the harm of family separation, and promote parent engagement and justice for youth and families.   Job Description   The Staff Attorney for Early Defense will be an integral part of the Early Defense practice and in helping shield or reduce harm to the CFR Early Defense client inflicted by the family policing system. The Staff Attorney will report to the Senior Staff Attorney in Early Defense.    Location: This position is remote or in person in alignment with CFR’s telecommuting policy. CFR has offices in Staten Island, Lower Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens.  This position may work out of any of these offices as needed subject to CFR’s hoteling policy. With an Anticipated Start Date of September 14, 2026.   Specific Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:   Early Defense  Under the supervision of the Senior Staff Attorney in Early Defense: Conducting intake and client interviews and assess whether clients qualify for Early Defense representation, and connect to other organizations as needed; Carry a caseload, both through Early Defense intake screening and case assignment for attorney support as appropriate, and collaborate with other Early Defense staff to provide client-centered legal advice and representation to parents during family policing system investigations and meet the objectives of clients who retain CFR for Early Defense representation; Strategically communicate with legal representatives of respective agencies involved in a family policing investigation (i.e. DOE, Hospital, ACS, PPRS etc.); Delivering and monitoring a variety of written and oral communications including Early Defense Retainers, Client’s Rights and Responsibilities, practice resources, internal memos, and important messaging for internal and external use; Think creatively around strategies and practices to shield Early Defense Clients from the Family Policing System. Included but not limited to  Use of Standby Guardianship Agreements and Designation of Person with Parental Relationship; Advising on voluntary placements  Drafting petitions for custody and guardianship and writs of habeas corpus. Under the supervision of Early Defense Leadership, develop strategic relationships with other organizations that regularly interact with our client population (i.e., legal defender organizations, ACS, and other agencies) to forward the goals of the Early Defense practice and its clients; Attend regular internal meetings with other Early Defense Staff  Collaborate with Family Defense Practices in all boroughs that CFR practices in upon filing for Early Defense clients, which may include, but is not limited to, producing memos and participating in phone calls for transitions, providing in person intake support, providing hearing preparation support to the Family Defense team, and co-counseling initial hearings, etc. Support Complex Litigation Teams for Early Defense clients facing medically complicated cases, including supporting team on record collection and review, hearing preparation, and in person team support upon filing Issue spot due process violations and other potential claims for review for referral to impact litigation work Collaborate with CFR’s wraparound and practice areas including criminal, immigration, SCR, and civil defense; Serve as a liaison between the Early Defense Department and Policy Department to connect Early Defense work to larger policy goals that impact our clients and their communities  Tracking (in CMS - internal data collection system) and recording (in the client legal notes and in client folders) activities, outcomes and deliverables for the project, maintaining up to date information Assisting  in efforts to conduct community outreach, presentations, and develop training materials for parents, mandated reporters, external stakeholders/partners and CFR staff. Qualifications  Juris Doctor degree  Minimum 1 year of experience in direct client representation in family defense, preferably in New York City  Knowledge of New York City Article 10 institutional providers and system actors  A demonstrated commitment to working with impacted communities to achieve change.  Specific experience with legislation and/or coalition membership is preferred as is experience in parent defense and Article 10 proceedings, CVO cases, and/or other administrative hearing support (SCR, HRA, DOE) An aptitude for productive problem-solving The ability to positively and productively contribute to the work culture at CFR in working with staff at all levels.  Strong written and oral advocacy Be well organized and have the ability to work efficiently and effectively, managing numerous projects and being simultaneously attentive to multiple deadlines.    Salary & Benefits   CFR strives to create an inclusive and antiracist environment for all of its staff, and candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply; CFR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.   Annualized Salary: $86,800 (L1) - $107,500 (L10)   Travel: The Staff Attorney, Early Defense position is a cross borough position. CFR represents clients across 4 boroughs (Manhattan, Richmond County, Queens, and the Bronx). However, the Staff Attorney may need to travel to any of the 5 boroughs should the need arise in relation to a particular client's cases.