Entry Level Staff Attorney

Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a national nonprofit public defense organization that pioneered the holistic defense model more than 30 years ago. Founded in Harlem, NDS was built to challenge the traditional public defense model by centering clients, communities, and interdisciplinary advocacy. Today, NDS operates community-based offices in Harlem; the Bronx; Detroit; and Hays County, Texas, supported by a unified national infrastructure that allows local teams to deliver high-quality, responsive representation rooted in the communities they serve. Across all locations, NDS provides client-centered legal representation through interdisciplinary teams composed of attorneys, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators.

About the role

An Entry-Level Staff Attorney demonstrates a commitment to serving marginalized persons and communities and an enthusiasm for holistic defense. The ideal candidate is someone who demonstrates a commitment to serving marginalized persons and communities, preferably with a demonstrated commitment to public defense or experience serving marginalized communities in a social justice organization. At NDS Detroit, how we represent our clients is as important as individual case outcomes, and our attorneys approach the cultivation of a positive office culture and the representation of indigent clients with equal rigor and commitment.

Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence by providing vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to the residents of Wayne County.

Responsibilities

• Engage in frequent court appearances and litigation, including arraignments, preliminary examinations, evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, trials, and sentencings.
• Interview clients and their families in the office or local jails, conduct legal research, and write pre-pleading letters, motions, and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients.
• Coordinate work performed by team members (investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators).
• Work with cross-practice colleagues (immigration defense/civil defense/family defense) to obtain comprehensive legal outcomes for clients.
• Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations, hearings, and trials in criminal cases.
• Work primarily at NDS’ main office when not in Court.

Requirements

• A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, racial equity, and social justice issues and the Wayne County communities.
• Experience representing clients in criminal cases and knowledge of criminal procedures from arraignments to appeals (preferred but not required). Candidates with trial experience, particularly as lead counsel in the most serious felony cases, are encouraged to apply.
• A track record of strategically guiding casework, projects, and/or relationships; applying good and practiced judgment; and routinely pushing through roadblocks to achieve your goals.
• Management skills and a coaching mindset.
• Doggedness and resilience combined with people and situation smarts.
• An ability to quickly build relationships across varying identities, income levels, races, and ethnicities.
• A high level of organizational and administrative skills to handle a high caseload.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Enrollment in an accredited law school with a graduation date not later than May 2027, with the ability to take the July 2027 Michigan Bar Examination; OR a license to practice law in Michigan or in another state; and/or the capability of becoming licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan within six months.
• Experience in the criminal courts of Wayne County (and Michigan generally) is encouraged.
• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Word and OneDrive.

Qualifications

• Bi-lingual (Spanish or Arabic) attorneys are encouraged to apply.

Pay

The pre-licensed salary starts at $78,794.69 annually.

Benefits

• Full medical and dental benefits
• Retirement plan with company match up to 5%
• Robust time off perks
• Paid parental leave