Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks a Social Worker to join the Adolescent Representation Unit in our Jamaica, 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 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.
The Adolescent Representation Unit is located in our Jamaica office and represents and protects the legal rights of young people who are arrested. Our staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals. Social workers on the team provide clinical support, case management, and advocacy for BDS clients up to age 17 who have juvenile delinquency proceedings. All team members are expected to work collaboratively to provide the best representation on behalf of the client and in support of their needs.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for a caseload of adolescent clients with varying needs and case-related deadlines, ensuring timely action and intervention.
- Appear in court to provide advocacy for clients.
- Produce pre-pleading and pre-disposition reports on clients’ behalf.
- Provide crisis intervention and respond to emergencies as needed.
- Meet regularly with clients including in the community and detention.
- Ensure appropriate involvement and support of family members.
- Develop and maintain relationships with Department of Probation personnel to facilitate coordination of meetings with clients and intervene in issues as they arise.
- Identify resources and foster collaborative relationships with resource providers and refer clients as needed.
- Maintain case notes and documentation in case management and document management systems, assuring information is properly recorded in accordance with professional responsibility rules and BDS policies.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- New York State Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), or master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and eligible to become licensed within six months of starting the position.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of the defense team in a client-centered practice.
- Strong clinical assessment, crisis intervention, and client advocacy skills.
- Knowledge of adolescent development as well as intergenerational and complex traumas.
- Ability to write detailed and persuasive reports as part of the pre-pleading and dispositional phase of the client’s case.
- Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Family Court experience with delinquency cases or in other forensic settings a plus.
- Bilingual Spanish-English preferred.
Position Information
This is an exempt, salaried position. The usual schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS offices and the courts located in Jamaica, Queens, with detention and home visits as needed.
Salary for this position is based on the experience of the applicant and ranges from approximately $80,000-$89,000. BDS offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and a 403(b)-retirement plan. To support work/life balance and family-friendly policies, BDS has generous vacation, sick, holiday, family, and medical leave policies.
Application Instructions
Please click HERE to submit a letter of interest and resume. Please submit your application by Feb 7, 2026.
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, H.R., Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org.
