Job Title: Criminal Defense Practice Entry-Level Staff Attorney
Job Responsibilities:
- Zealously advocate for individuals facing criminal charges in the Bronx, as well as related administrative and civil proceedings such as Department of Motor Vehicle hearings.
- Engage in intensive client interviewing, counseling, research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiations as part of legal representation.
- Provide comprehensive, team-based representation by collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of attorneys and advocates to avoid and mitigate further legal system involvement and consequences arising from contact with the criminal legal system.
- Effectively litigate, confidently negotiate, and skillfully advocate for clients in hearings and trials both orally and in writing.
- Communicate and negotiate with judges, prosecutors, and other actors within the criminal legal system.
- Regularly work arraignment shifts, including nights and weekends.
- Co-counsel cases in other venues like Family Court, Civil Court, and Administrative Hearings, as necessary.
- Help identify systemic problems facing the people represented and create solutions to mitigate or eliminate these issues by advocating for systemic change.
- Enter and maintain accurate client data, files, and notes regarding advocacy and representation in the case management system.
- Participate in holistic advocacy within the practice and in the office.
- Participate in internal working groups to develop best practices.
- Engage in trainings within the office as well as community events, conferences, and trainings.
Education and Experience Information:
- Candidates must be third-year (3L) students or recent graduates of an American Bar Association-accredited law school, or an attorney with less than three years of relevant legal practice.
- Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to directly defending people charged with criminal offenses in the Bronx and challenging systemic injustice and carceral systems.
- Experience working with racially and ethnically marginalized communities of color targeted by systemic injustice is required.
- Candidates must possess effective research, writing, and courtroom advocacy skills, strong legal analytical skills, and the capacity to employ non-legal resources to support the people represented.
- The ability to multitask, maintain order, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment is essential.
- Applicants should have meticulous attention to detail, the ability to think critically and creatively in a fast-paced setting, and the ability to receive constructive feedback and shift behavior accordingly.
- A commitment to raising cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level is needed.
- If hired, applicants must sit for the New York State Bar Examination or submit the appropriate materials necessary for Pro Hac Vice admission or waiver.
Salary Information:
- This is an entry-level Law Graduate/Attorney Position with a salary of $83,504.
- Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 403(b) plan with employer contribution, and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy.
- More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended.
- Approximately 70% of the organization's staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit.
- This position is exempt, meaning non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and are entitled to overtime, whereas exempt employees are not.
The organization is committed to maintaining a diverse workplace and encourages applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent, and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family, and immigration legal systems. Applications are being considered on a rolling basis, and the start date for this position is September 8, 2025.
