Teams at Neighborhood Defender Service Inc

Summer law interns support public defenders representing indigent clients charged with felonies. Responsibilities include legal research and writing, discovery and file review, observing and assisting with court proceedings, investigations, and client meetings, conducting supervised hearings and interviews, and participating in training and office events within a holistic defense team.

Build and lead NDS’s unified advancement function across national and local offices. The role oversees institutional fundraising, develops an individual giving program, manages funder relationships and proposals, leads storytelling and communications, and establishes advancement systems, workflows, and performance tracking. It also supervises a small team, coordinates with finance and program leaders, and develops long-term staffing and resourcing plans.

Represents indigent clients in serious criminal cases through arraignments, hearings, negotiations, trials, sentencings, and appeals. Conducts client and family interviews, legal research, motion and brief writing, and coordinates investigators, social workers, advocates, and administrators. Collaborates across practice areas to achieve holistic outcomes while managing a high caseload and providing effective oral advocacy. Requires commitment to criminal justice, racial equity, and public defense.