About Queens Defenders

Founded in 1996, Queens Defenders is a leading Public Defender Organization providing high quality, holistic representation for indigent community members in Queens, NY, New York City’s most diverse borough and one of the most diverse locales in the world. Our mission is to protect our clients from the far-reaching effects of prosecution through zealous advocacy and direct support services. We give life to our mission through our core values: a commitment to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and professional environment; relentless in our pursuit of justice; unwavering in our commitment to excellence in the courtroom and in the community; client-centered and holistic in our representation, advocacy, and support services; respectful of the individuals with whom we interact. At Queens Defenders, dedicated teams of criminal defense attorneys, immigration lawyers, social workers, investigators, and client-support specialists come together to tirelessly champion justice for each and every client. Our highly skilled staff of 290, serves and positively impacts the lives of thousands of individuals annually through this collaborative and supportive approach.

Nonprofit Policy Attorney (Forest Hills, New York):

This role will support Queens Defenders mission by reporting avenues of policy reform directly to management for their consideration and determination. The identification and implementation of these avenues will be closely supervised and ultimately determined by Queens Defenders’ management.

Responsibilities include:

Conducting legal research on statutes and regulations relevant to specific policy issues to support the Queens Defenders policy program. Creating summaries of relevant proposed bills. Maintaining the QD Policy database of research material and conducting necessary administrative work. Monitor legislative developments at the local and state levels. Prepare draft legal memoranda, briefs and other documents to support the organization’s policy positions and submit all work to management for review and final determination by management. Participate in policy campaigns by attending rallies, political and other events as required. Participate in stakeholder, campaign partnership meetings, and report potential memoranda, letters of support, and law reform campaigns to management for consideration and approval. Work alongside other staff and attorneys to support the Queens Defenders Policy Project. Maintain a small caseload of clients in criminal and supreme court under supervision. Center principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program developments, policy application and organizational practices and processes; Develop and maintain productive work environment.

Salary Offered: $153,254 per year. Must have a Juris Doctor or LLM, admission to New York Bar, at least one year of criminal law litigation and one year of policy and law reform experience.  Submit cover letter and resume by emailing them to Joshua Epstein, Immigration Attorney Supervisor / Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at jepstein@queensdefenders.org with the subject line “Nonprofit Policy Attorney.”