Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, also known as NDS, is a community-based, public defense practice that offers legal representation for the residents of the Manhattan are in New York. It develops bilingual materials and community education workshops. The company represents a client before there has been any contact with law enforcement through Pre-Arrest Services. Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem administers Students Taking Action Towards Empowerment, which is a comprehensive youth leadership development program that works to prevent youth incarceration and negative interaction with the criminal justice system. Its clients include criminal and civil attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and law school and social work interns.