The Legal Aid Society houses the largest post-conviction public defense practice in New York City, annually providing holistic, client-centered representation to over 1,000 people with misdemeanor, felony, and homicide convictions. We represent low-income people in all five boroughs who are challenging their criminal convictions on appeal or in other post-conviction proceedings. The Wrongful Conviction Unit (WCU) specifically seeks to exonerate individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes. Our work includes reinvestigating cases, advocating to the Conviction Review Units at the District Attorney’s Offices and litigating the claims in Supreme and Appellate Courts.
The Supervising Attorney for the Wrongful Conviction Unit will lead a team of five staff attorneys, three paralegals, and two investigators to ensure that the highest level of representation is provided to all clients. The Supervising Attorney is responsible for managing workflow, guiding and developing staff, and providing strategic vision for the unit.
The ideal candidate is a motivated leader that values teaching and mentoring, innovation, and professional development. The candidate should understand the vital role public defenders play in challenging systemic racism and oppression. This candidate will consciously create and enhance a diverse and affirming workplace culture that is supportive, collaborative, and affirming to our clients and colleagues.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead the WCU unit to ensure high-quality advocacy, including setting priorities, developing protocols, and making strategic determinations
Directly mentor WCU staff through regular one-on-one meetings, regular feedback, and annual evaluations to foster professional development and growth
Provide case and caseload supervision, including conferencing individual cases for strategic planning, managing caseloads and setting priorities, providing guidance on preparation for meetings with DA’s offices and hearings, and reviewing written work
Provide training on substantive areas of the law and related advocacy skills
Engage in strategic planning for the unit, identifying and implementing necessary improvements and protocols, and troubleshooting issues that arise
Engage with the Innocence Network and other stakeholders in the wrongful conviction community, preparing presentations, participating in panels and conferences, and advocating for reforms
Carry a small caseload
Other responsibilities as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
New York State Bar admission (or ability to waive into New York State from another jurisdiction)
At least five years of post-conviction representation with a preference for investigation and litigation of wrongful conviction claims
Demonstrated commitment to public defense, social and racial justice, and equity
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Comprehensive knowledge of relevant New York State and federal law including evidence laws, criminal and constitutional laws, statutory interpretation, and ethical principles contained in the Rules of Professional Conduct
Excellent investigative, research, writing, editing, and oral argument skills
Excellent organizational and time-management skills
Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with all members of the staff
Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team with varying experience levels
Ability to challenge others to seek innovative and creative approaches to advocacy
Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers
Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission and values
Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:
Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
Requires occasional or frequent physical movement to perform essential job functions which may include, bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, standing or walking for long periods of time, accessing small spaces
Will require travel within NYC and to prison facilities in upstate New York. May require travel out of state as well
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.
Salary Range: $112,600 – $168,100
The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.
Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness
The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. 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. To learn more, click the links below.
studentaid.gov
hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs
WORK AUTHORIZATION
All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)
HOW TO APPLY
All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:
Cover Letter
Resume
Writing Sample
For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), 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.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
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 (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.
Location
Manhattan – Legal Aid Society Headquarters