NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE (NDS) is creating NDS Hays County, a new nonprofit, client-centered, collaborative, holistic public defense office to provide criminal defense representation and related services to residents of Hays County, Texas. The office will open in January 2023.

Clients are represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the case concludes.

Responsibilities:

• Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client‐centered, community‐based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence by providing vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to clients.
• Work closely with team members in preparing clients’ cases. Visit courthouses and retrieve documentation.
• Conduct the team’s investigative work, including:
  • Identifying, locating, and interviewing witnesses;
  • Visiting, photographing, and diagramming locations;
  • Obtaining documents, reports, and other materials from a variety of sources;
  • Preparing investigative reports and trial exhibits;
  • Reviewing discovery, video, and documents received from the prosecution.
• Testify at trial.
• Document investigative work in the case management system.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, racial equity, and social justice issues, and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
• An ability to quickly build relationships with people of varying identities, income levels, races and ethnicities.
• A high level of organization and administrative skills to handle a high caseload and multi-task in a very fast-paced environment.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Energy, enthusiasm, and ingenuity to gather and develop information from a broad spectrum of sources, ranging from community residents to county, state, and federal agencies.
• An ability to work cooperatively in a team setting.
• An associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Spanish fluency is preferred but not required.

Compensation: Compensation is commensurate with experience and is in adherence to the NDS compensation scale. Exceptional benefits package includes full medical and dental for employee and family, retirement, life and AD&D insurance, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.

How to Apply: Interviews are being held on a rolling basis, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to texashiring@neighborhooddefender.org with the subject line, “Hays Investigator.”

Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS values and specifically seeks applicants who are people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non‐conforming, and gender fluid people.