Criminal Defense Unit

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo seeks to provide access to justice and due process to the most vulnerable individuals, children and families in the Western New York Community through quality legal representation and assistance. 

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo is seeking a full-time social worker in our Criminal Defense Unit’s (CDU) Holistic Representation Program (HRP). The HRP provides clients with collaborative advocacy by actively assisting clients with mental health and substance abuse treatment, addressing their civil legal needs and other societal issues that bring them into the criminal justice system, as well as engaging with community organizations. 

The primary responsibility of the social worker is to assist CDU attorneys as part of an interdisciplinary team in providing representation to clients in a variety of criminal matters. Examples of duties include, but are not limited to: 

• Interview and evaluate clients, witnesses and any other person with factual information related to the client and/or the client’s needs or objectives. 

• Perform field investigations, if appropriate in professional judgment, to prepare for case, including home visits, jail visits, hospital and/or community visits with clients. 

• Review and/or obtain histories, service plans, agency medical or school records, and clinical assessments. 

• Provide face-to-face services that are goal directed, trauma informed, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based, with a focus on reducing recidivism. 

• Prepare written reports, including, where appropriate, recommendations based on specialized assessments of the clients’ needs or wishes. 

• Consult and confer with case-workers, service providers, educators, representatives of other agencies, probation officers or any other collateral individual as required. 

• Work collaboratively with attorneys to develop recommendations for the Court. 

• Maintain clear and specific progress notes that document progress with the plan of care and goal completion. 

• Maintain accurate case records, including documentation and tracking of client cases in the appropriate database. 

• Conduct occasional in-house trainings for both social work and legal staff. 

• Facilitate community workshops for clients. 

• Participate as an integral part of Holistic Representation Program team. 

• Attend court proceedings/hearings and provide testimony, as required. 

• Attend meetings, reviews, conferences or other functions at various locations, as required. 

• Communicate in person, by telephone, e-mail, fax or by mail with clients, other agencies, attorneys, court and other public officials, other staff and persons with whom the unit staff interacts, and the general public; take and give telephone messages; and answer questions and/or make referrals as appropriate. 

• Maintain offices files, as required by unit. 

Requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Master’s degree in Social Work and one year experience providing social casework services. Internship experience will be counted toward experience requirement. 

• Possess high level of knowledge working with justice-involved clients and community. 

• Must understand and be willing to strictly adhere to attorney-client privilege. 

• Possess good working knowledge of various types of community resources. 

• Must be familiar with court procedures. 

• Must possess valid NYS Driver’s License and have a registered vehicle available for use during work hours or must demonstrate capacity to meet the transportation needs of the position. 

• Must be a team player. 

• Fluency in Spanish preferred 

This position is full-time.  The salary range is $52,800 – $70,000, depending on experience. 

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision benefits is available to you and your dependents.  In addition, we offer generous vacation, personal, and sick time.  Other benefits available to you are long-term disability insurance, supplemental term life insurance, parking expense reimbursement plan, transit plan, a flexible spending account, and a 401(k) retirement plan. 

Many of our staff apply for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc. is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities / Females / Disabled / Veterans / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity 

Please send your cover letter, resume, and writing sample to [email protected] or The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Attention: Human Resources, 290 Main Street, Suite 400, Buffalo, NY 14202 by July 21, 2023. 

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.