Social Worker / Client Advocate

Job description

Overview The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office located in Harlem, providing the highest quality legal representation in criminal, civil, immigration and family courts to residents of Northern Manhattan and the Bronx who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. The Family Defense Practice at NDS represents parents in family policing cases (sometimes called “child welfare” or “child protection” cases) filed by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) as well as related family court cases, including custody, visitation and termination of parental rights proceedings. Through our holistic approach to representation, the Family Defense Practice provides parents with the help they need—both inside and outside of court—to keep their families safe and stable. NDS is committed to advancing due process rights for parents by fighting unwarranted state intervention in their lives and advocating for related systemic change. The non-attorney advocate (social worker or client advocate) is an essential part of a client’s interdisciplinary team and will work closely with team administrators, litigation assistants and at...