Social Worker, Women's Defense Project and Mental Health Teams

Job Description

Job Description

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) seeks a Social Worker to join the Criminal Defense Practice in the Brooklyn Office where they will work with both the Women’s Defense Project and the Mental Health Team.

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 Criminal Defense Practice represents and protects the legal rights of people who are arrested and are facing both misdemeanors and felony cases in Brooklyn and Queens Supreme and Criminal Courts. Our staff consists of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative professionals. BDS seeks an energetic social worker to become an integral part of the team to advocate for clients, both in and out of court. Both the Women’s Defense Project and the Mental Health Team require a candidate who will be able to create a safe, nurturing, and nonjudgemental space where a client will feel safe to discuss their history of abuse, trafficking and experience with mental illness.

Responsibilities

• Partner with two interdisciplinary teams including attorneys and other experts to provide comprehensive legal representation for clients in the Women’s Defense Project as well as those on the Mental Health Team.
• Participate in regular client meetings in order to establish a relationship with the client and obtain a history of the client’s experiences. These meetings include visits to incarcerated clients. 
• Women’s Defense Project: The Social Worker will interview clients in detail about their trafficking and/or trauma history and prepare in-depth, comprehensive reports of the life histories of clients including how trauma, abuse, domestic violence and trafficking affects women and leads to their involvement in the criminal legal system. This may also include interviews of related parties.
• Mental Health Team: The Social Worker will interview clients, family members and others with relevant information in order to obtain a full history and understanding of presenting mental illness as well as obtaining and reviewing full medical and mental health records in order to prepare in-depth, comprehensive reports of the life and mental health histories of clients including information regarding the intersection of their mental illness and their involvement in the criminal justice.
• Attend court appearances and provide oral advocacy as needed.
• Provide emotional support and guidance to clients, as well as crisis intervention when needed.
• Maintain and foster relationships with programs.
• Maintain case notes and documentation in electronic database. 
• Additional duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

• LCSW preferred or LMSW with at least two years’ experience in defense-based social work practice.
• Ability to work as part of the defense team in a client-centered practice.
• Strong written and verbal advocacy skills.
• Knowledge and interest in unique issues impacting female identifying clients.
• Experience working with clients with mental illness preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues on an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to write detailed and persuasive reports that include mitigation as part of the pre-pleading and post-conviction phase of the client’s case.
• Strong interpersonal skills in order to engage with family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, and other potential mitigation/defense witnesses to obtain information regarding the client’s background and/or evidence to support the defense of the case or mitigating circumstances.
• Knowledge of the psychological, behavioral, and neurological conditions set forth in the DSM-5 as well as understanding of intergenerational and complex traumas. 
• Strong clinical assessment, crisis intervention, and client advocacy skills
• Excellent writing, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.

  Position Information

This is an exempt, salaried position in the collective bargaining agreement. The normal schedule is Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. The position is based at BDS’ offices, and the courts located in Brooklyn, with jail and home visits as needed. Some remote work is permitted.

Salary for this position is based on the experience of the applicant and ranges from approximately $88,000-$95,000, with additional pay possible for applicants with extensive experience. 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

Click “Apply Now” to submit a cover letter and resume on our online application portal. 

Please submit your application by September 14, 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, Human Resources, Christina Wallace, at cwallace @ bds.org.