The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice Special Litigation Unit is seeking an experienced civil litigator to supervise a team of lawyers developing creative and innovative legal advocacy and systemic law reform strategies across a range of criminal justice matters.
The Special Litigation Unit of The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice engages in civil litigation and policy advocacy to address systemic injustices affecting the Legal Aid Society’s criminal defense clients and their families. Examples of past work include federal litigation challenging the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices, litigation compelling arraignments within 24 hours, constitutional challenges to mandatory detention of people accused of parole violations, constitutional challenges to the police response to protests against police violence, and policy advocacy to reform New York’s pre-trial criminal discovery and bail statutes. SLU sits within the Law Reform Team of the Criminal Defense Practice, alongside Legal Aid’s Prisoner Rights Project, Community Justice Unit, Policy Unit and other specialized projects.
The Supervising Attorney will work closely with the Director of Special Litigation/Attorney-in-Charge of Law Reform to direct the litigation strategy of the Special Litigation Unit across a range of issues, including but not limited to combatting racial discrimination in the criminal justice system, efforts to end mass incarceration, and limiting police surveillance; supervise and support the work of other attorneys, paralegals and other staff working in the unit; initiate new litigation strategies and act as lead counsel in complex litigation; support policy advocacy through expert analysis and coalition building; and act as a representative of the Legal Aid Society in coalitions, with external stakeholders, and in the media.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervision and Litigation Management
Provide proactive, compassionate line management to staff attorneys, paralegals and other staff within the Special Litigation Unit
With the Director of the unit, help direct and implement the strategy of the Special Litigation Unit, oversee systems to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Unit, and provide leadership within the team
Identify opportunities for new litigation strategies
Initiate and lead complex civil litigation in state and federal court
Implement SLU’s Advocacy and Policy Priorities
Direct research and advocacy to support policy reform at the city and state levels, working closely with the Director of SLU and the Director of Policy
Represent the Legal Aid Society in coalitions and develop and maintain relationships with coalition and other external partners
Support SLU’s Internal Relationships and Other Duties as Assigned
Manage the Special Litigation Unit’s relationships across the various practice areas within The Legal Aid Society
Professional Development and other duties as assigned
Participate in continuous professional development
Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
Other duties as assigned
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
Admission to New York State bar
Minimum of seven years of civil litigation experience in state and/or federal courts, including experience of complex strategic litigation implicating constitutional, civil rights, or civil liberties issues
Expertise in the rules of civil procedure and the dynamics of civil litigation
Preferred qualifications:
Demonstrable experience in New York courts strongly preferred
Experience in policy development and legislative advocacy is preferred but not required
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.
Cover Letter
Resume
Writing Sample
SALARY TRANSPARENCY
The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.
Salary Range/ Salary: $114,301 to $163,507
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.
Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society
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
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.
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. 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 jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.
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.