Civil Action Practice Benefits Advocate

Overview

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, community-oriented, holistic defense office in the South Bronx – seeks an advocate with a commitment to social justice to work as a Benefits Advocate in the Civil Action Practice.   BxD is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how marginalized people in the Bronx are represented in legal systems, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, advocates, investigators, and team administrators, all of whom collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement and to facilitate access to public benefits and services. Through this integrated referral-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we represent.  

Each year, we defend over 20,000 Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, engagement, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national level. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities that we work with, and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Civil Action Practice  

 Our Civil Action Practice provides comprehensive legal services to the people we represent and their families by fully integrating civil representation, benefit services and advocacy with our criminal, immigration and family defense practices. Our goal is to minimize the severe and often unforeseen fallout from legal system involvement, facilitate the seamless reintegration of the people we represent into their communities, and provide community-facing services and education.  

The Benefits Access and Advocacy Team 

The Bronx Defenders Benefits Team provides benefits access in three main ways: first, they support thousands of community walk-ins and callers to our benefits hotline each year, helping them apply, recertify and advocate for crucial public benefits. Second, the Benefits Team works directly with our Right to Counsel (RTC) Housing Team to help tenants secure emergency rental arrears, housing subsidies and housing benefits and relocation resources. Lastly, our team provides support for benefits-related referrals from our criminal, family and immigration practices and provides expertise to enable access to benefits for people who face barriers from criminal court involvement, immigration issues or involvement in the family regulation system.    

Responsibilities

The Civil Action Practice seeks Benefits Advocates to assist clients and community members in obtaining, recertifying and advocating for a wide range of life-sustaining public benefits. This work will involve servicing community walk-ins as well as collaborating with our holistic defense teams and housing team to support our clients.   

The Benefits Advocate will: 

• Screen, complete applications for and refer clients and community members for eligibility and interest in public benefits, including, but not limited to:  

• Access to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and food pantries 

• Cash Assistance 

• Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) and other housing benefits 

• Employment assistance 

• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) federal assistance program  

• Medicare and Medicaid 

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

• Childcare benefits  

• Utility benefits 

• Transit assistance 

• Lifeline/phones 

• Staff the Community Benefits Hotline 

• Conduct eligibility assessment, case planning, application completion and case advocacy using a comprehensive and holistic approach for clients and community members 

• Engage in advocacy to obtain benefits, including correspondence with agencies, conciliation, fair hearings and reapplication 

• Participate in collaborative meetings within The Bronx Defenders and with stakeholders, other community-based organizations and government agencies including the NYC Human Resource Administration, the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance and various benefits cohorts to share feedback on benefits needs and support benefit inquiries  

• Collaborate with and support attorneys and advocates in the civil, criminal, family and immigration practices by: 

• Responding to benefits-based referrals 

• Supporting benefits screenings, applications and advocacy 

• Supporting benefits application submission  

• Assist in developing public benefits education and outreach materials for internal and external audiences 

• Participate in funder meetings regarding benefits needs 

• Monitor changes in the public benefits landscape and share relevant updates with the practice 

• Assist in maintaining systems of data collection and case management systems to track benefits work including, but not limited to: 

• Entering and maintaining accurate client data 

• Tracking information and notes regarding informal and formal advocacy 

• Assist in development and facilitation of internal and external trainings and presentations related to benefits work 

• Identify creative ways to offer support and technical assistance to external agencies and service providers   

• Engage in community outreach across NYC to inform community members about BxD’s services and projects, and to develop relationships with service providers that can assist the people we represent and community members  

• Support and participate in pipelines, including intern trainings, supervision and mentorship  

• Help identify the systemic problems that affect the people we represent while thinking creatively about new strategies and solutions for strategic change  

• Support initiatives related to policy, communications, legislation, organizing, and systemic reform advocacy 

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have: 

• Spanish Proficiency

Candidate must demonstrate:  

• Commitment to public interest, human services, and/or civil rights 

• Experience working in and with racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities targeted by carceral legal systems 

• Unwavering commitment to social justice 

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences  

• Strong active listening and interpersonal skills   

• Effective organization, time management, and problem-solving skills 

• Ability to multitask effectively and work well under pressure while adhering to stringent deadlines 

• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles  

• Meticulous attention to detail  

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers   

• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with people across technical and non-technical roles   

• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly 

• Willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent 

• 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 

• Experience in and working knowledge of specific public benefits and applications is preferred but not required 

This is a primarily in-person position. 

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 1-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $57,625 to $62,867. 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; and 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 within the bargaining unit.  

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

To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document. If you would prefer to send in a video or audio statement in lieu of a cover letter, you may upload your resume as a document and separately upload a video or audio statement instead of a cover letter. Your cover letter or video/audio statement should share why you want to do this work at our office, some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position, and any additional information you would like for us to consider. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized on your resume. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. If selected for the position, your resume will be used to determine your salary based on the number of years of directly relevant professional experience listed; we therefore encourage you to ensure your resume is up to date. Please remember that you may submit a written cover letter or an audio/video statement, but not both, and applications without either will not be considered.  

Applications will be accepted through March 31 but will be considered on a rolling basis. Please contact Runa Rajagopal, Managing Director, Civil Action Practice, via email at Runar@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. 

Salary : $57,625 - $62,867