Job Description

NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE

POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Spanish Interpreter, NDS Texas (Del Rio, Houston, San Antonio)

 

NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE of Texas is a client-centered, holistic public defense office that addresses the humanitarian crisis at the southern border by providing criminal defense representation and Padilla consultations to individuals arrested by Texas law enforcement along that border through Operation Lone Star.

 

NDS represents non-citizen clients as well as US-citizen clients who are charged with crimes and cannot afford to hire a lawyer. 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.

 

The first office NDS Texas OLS Defense Team office is based in San Antonio and opened in January 2022. A second office opened in Houston in August 2022. The NDS Texas OLS Defense Team also has employees based in multiple locations along the Texas border. Flexible work arrangements and partial telecommuting are available. There will be some travel required.

1. Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence.
2. Provide vigorous support with energy and enthusiasm to
3. Provide simultaneous and consecutive Spanish language interpretation and translation services for the defense and investigation of criminal cases in person and remotely
4. Interpret and translate bi-directionally into English and Spanish.
5. Translate and proofread translations of legal documents, statements, and audio and video recordings for accuracy.
6. Assist with interviews of witnesses and clients. Communicate with clients, clients’ families, and witnesses in the field, in court, or in jails.
7. Assist with screening and summarizing Spanish audio recordings, in written or oral form, and in producing accurate transcriptions and translations, among other language related tasks.

1. A demonstrated commitment to criminal and immigration justice, indigent defense, racial equity, social justice issues, and a substantive understanding of the biases impacting our clients.
2. Persistence and resilience combined with people and situation smarts.
3. An ability to quickly build relationships with people of varying identities, income levels, races, and ethnicities.
4. An ability to work cooperatively in a team setting.
5. An extremely high-level of organizational and administrative skills handling a high caseload and multi-task in a very fast-paced environment.
6. Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing.
7. Experience in both oral interpreting and written translation from Spanish to English and vice versa.
8. Legal Spanish interpretation experience 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.

The salary, benefits, and employment policies relevant to this position are governed by the CBA between NDS and the NDS Union, part of ALAA UAW 2325.

 

How to Apply:

Interviews are held on a rolling basis, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants should apply through the career portal at with a cover letter and resume.

 

For more information about NDS, please visit our website at

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.

 

Job Tags

Holiday work, Full time, Remote job, Flexible hours,

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