Staff Attorney-Criminal Defense/Felony Experience

Min 3 yrs required

Full-time

No

Organization: The Legal Aid Society
Title: Staff Attorney-Criminal Defense/Felony Experience
Location: New York, NY
Salary Range: $79,591 - $130,308

Overview:

The Legal Aid Society, the nation's oldest and largest social justice legal services organization, is seeking dedicated and passionate Staff Attorneys for the Criminal Defense Practice in various trial offices throughout New York City. This role requires felony trial experience and a minimum of 3 years of demonstrated commitment to public defense, racial equity, and social justice. The ideal candidate is an NYS admitted criminal defense attorney who is committed to serving marginalized persons and communities and has extensive criminal court experience.

Responsibilities:

- Provide client-centered, comprehensive representation from arraignments through trial, disposition, or dismissal
- Conduct bail review hearings and writs of habeas corpus to secure client's liberty post arraignments
- Prepare cases for advocacy and litigation, including gathering information and researching law for effective representation
- Coordinate with specialty units to assist in advocacy, such as DNA Unit, Digital Forensics, Decarceration, and Immigration
- Consult and coordinate with supervising attorneys for case reviews
- Review discovery materials and prepare for litigation
- Conduct preliminary hearings, suppression hearings, and other pretrial hearings, as well as trials
- Prepare mitigation materials for diversion courts or sentencing advocacy
- Advise and enter appropriate pleas in consultation with clients
- File notices of appeal and coordinate with appellate counsel
- Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

- A minimum of 3 years of demonstrated commitment to public defense, racial equity, and social justice with experience handling felony matters in NYS or other jurisdictions
- Track record of strategically guiding casework, projects, and/or relationships
- Clear and effective oral and written advocacy skills
- High level of organization and ability to meet multiple competing deadlines
- New York State bar admission (or ability to waive into New York State from another jurisdiction)

Salary Transparency:

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package, including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance. Salaries for unionized jobs are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The specific salary offers for this role will be dependent on candidate qualifications.

Salary Range: $79,591 - $130,308

Salary and Benefits:

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if, an offer is made.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness:

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

COVID Vaccination Information:

The Legal Aid Society is taking precautions and implementing safety measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to comply with New York City's requirements concerning Covid-19. All members of the Legal Aid community have a shared responsibility to support and comply with policies and protocols to protect the health and safety of our community. Learn more about our COVID-19 policy by visiting our website.

How to Apply:

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email .

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The Legal Aid Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, prohibiting discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, relationship and family structure, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Not applicable

Health insurance, paid vacation, disability, life insurance, loan forgiveness programs

Not specified

Criminal law, Trial experience, Client advocacy, Litigation, Case preparation, Mitigation, Bail advocacy, Investigation, Social work, Community-based programming, Appellate practice, Oral and written advocacy, Organization, Supervision, New York State bar admission, Diversity and inclusion, COVID-19 safety measures

Not specified

All applications must be completed online through the company's Careers page

Qualification and Experience Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated commitment to public defense, racial equity, and social justice with some experience handling felony matters in New York State or other jurisdictions.

Legal