Mitigation Associate, Criminal Defense Practice

Responsibilities

Interview clients in person and/or virtually in the community, in court, on Rikers Island and in other detention facilities as needed.
Request medical records on behalf of clients, including clients’ psychiatric, school, and hospital medical records.
Conduct in-depth collateral interviews with client’s family members.
Write thorough and persuasive mitigation reports incorporating feedback and edits from attorneys, social work supervisors, et al.
Attend client’s court dates when necessary.
Collaborate with attorneys and the assigned social worker to develop mitigation themes and narratives.
Attend writing workshops and trainings to hone writing and interview skills.
Meet writing deadlines set by the attorney and the social work supervisors.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, journalism or another related field.
Excellent writing skills.
Strong time management skills.
Excellent and empathetic communicator.
Ability to utilize case and document management systems to track information and data.
Strong attention to detail.
Proficiency in a second language is a plus.
Position Information

This is a non-exempt, salaried position in the collective bargaining unit. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is primarily based in the Forest Hills, Queens offices of BDS as well as the Queens courthouses.

BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a base salary range of $73,000-$78,000 depending on the applicant’s education and experience. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan. In order to support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.