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Job Description Brooklyn Defender Services’ (BDS) is seeking Entry Level Attorneys to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the Queens Office in September 2026. 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 multi-faceted 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. BDS’ Criminal Defense Practice zealously defends people who are accused of a crime in Queens, fighting to protect the individual rights of clients’ and minimize harm from involvement with the criminal legal system. BDS’ staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals who work collaboratively to bring about the best outcome for each client. Under the supervision of a Supervising Attorney, attorneys directly represent clients who have been arrested and face criminal charges. BDS provides a comprehensive training program for entry-level attorneys. This is followed by a period of time where they handle misdemeanor cases with supervision and then gradually move on to handling more serious cases. Responsibilities • Directly represent clients in Queens Criminal and Supreme Courts from intake through dismissal, plea or trial., • Foster strong attorney/client relationships., • Work collaboratively on interdisciplinary case teams with social workers, investigators, paralegals and admins., • Participate in a rotation to staff court arraignment shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays., • Prepare for and litigate hearings and trials in Criminal and Supreme Courts, as well as collateral administrative tribunals., • Prepare and argue written motions, argue in court regarding discovery, answer legal motions filed by the District Attorney’s office and other legal written and oral arguments in cases assigned to the attorney., • Collaborate with other BDS staff from our housing, immigration, family defense and education practices to provide comprehensive assistance to clients., • Meet regularly with supervisor to review caseload, discuss case strategy, and prepare for trial., • Be an advisor to the client when decisions are made about the case., • Meet with family members or other support networks as client requests., • Additional responsibilities as assigned. Qualifications • Juris Doctor (JD) degree anticipated by the start date of the incoming class in September 2026, ideally with trial advocacy, evidence, ethics, criminal law and criminal procedure courses., • Have taken the first available bar exam in NY after graduation., • Experience in a law school clinical program or a public defense internship involving client representation is preferred., • Demonstrated commitment to serving the public interest, as expressed by coursework, internships and extra-curricular activities., • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with interdisciplinary staff members both within the practice and throughout BDS., • Excellent litigation skills, • Excellent written and verbal communication skills., • Fluency in a second language is a plus. Position Information This is an exempt, salaried position. The position is based at BDS’s Queens office, and the courts located in Queens. BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. The salary for a 2025 law school graduate is $90,000. 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. Application Instructions Click "Apply" to submit a cover letter and resume addressed to Kathleen Rende and Karan Kukreja, Senior Supervising Attorneys, via our online application portal. Please submit your application by December 31, 2025. Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity and maintaining an equitable and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, and experiences to apply. If you require an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, please contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org

Job DescriptionDescription: Excellent knowledge of immigration laws and regulations • Strong analytical and research skills, • Ability to effectively communicate complex legal information, • Experience in preparing and filing immigration petitions and applications, • Proficient in legal writing and documentation, • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity and professionalismRequirements:, • Experience with complex immigration cases, including appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)., • Familiarity with business immigration, including work visas (H-1B, L-1, etc.), PERM labor certification, and corporate compliance., • Experience working with clients in the tech, healthcare, or other specialized industries., • Comprehensive benefits package, including health and 401K, • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

Job Description Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) is seeking Arraignment Court Clerks to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the 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 multi-faceted 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. BDS’ Criminal Defense Practice zealously defends people who are accused of a crime in Queens, fighting to protect the individual rights of clients’ and minimize harm from involvement with the criminal legal system. BDS’ staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals who work collaboratively to bring about the best outcome for each client. The Arraignment Court Clerk provides support to attorneys in criminal arraignment court. Arraignment is the first appearance made before a judge after arrest. At that time, a BDS attorney will be assigned to interview and represent the clients. The Arraignment Court Clerk works alongside the attorneys in arraignment court to help with the paperwork and coordination required to expedite the interviews, bail arguments, and release of as many people as possible. Responsibilities • Work with BDS attorneys and the BDS arraignment supervisor to collect paperwork from the court, organize the files, assure cases are being handled and enter cases into the case-management system., • Create paper files for new clients when required., • Look up potential conflicts of interest in the case management system., • Assist attorneys with looking up information in case management system., • Provide carfare to clients who are released., • Enter data into case management system., • Ability to work in a fast-paced in-court environment., • Good at handling multiple tasks, prioritizing appropriately and ensuring all tasks are completed on time., • Accurate and detail oriented., • Familiarity with using email, ideally Microsoft Outlook., • Comfortable and confident in learning case management and document management software. This is a full-time, non-exempt, salaried position. The position is based at the Queens Criminal Court and BDS’ offices in Queens. Since arraignment court operates 7 days per week from 8 am to 1 am the next day, the regular schedule will include some evening and weekend shifts. It also requires flexibility to stay later than the scheduled end of the shift, because sometimes the court extends the hours to arraign more cases. BDS provides carfare home when an evening shift is worked. BDS determines salary on a pay scale based on education and experience. For this position there is a salary range of $59,113-$66,987. 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. Application Instructions Click “Apply Now” to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. Please submit your application by January 16, 2026. Brooklyn Defender Services is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work environment and supports a nondiscrimination policy in all employment practices. We are focused on equity and inclusion and thus strongly encourage candidates of all identities, expressions, orientations, disabilities, experiences, and other characteristics that make us different to apply. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability or another reason, you may contact the Managing Director of Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at .