Staff Attorney - Homicide Defense Team

Neighborhood Defender Service•New York, NY

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Homicide Defense Team at NDS represents residents of Northern Manhattan who are charged with homicide and who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Clients are represented by a team comprised of a staff attorney, an investigator, a mitigation specialist, and a paralegal. NDS also provides pre-arrest representation to clients under threat of arrest. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the case concludes. NDS is committed to addressing the comprehensive legal and social service needs of clients.

Requirements

Must possess a demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, social justice issues, and/or the Harlem communities.
Must meet the First Department Qualifications for the 18b Homicide Panel, specifically actual court experience in at least sixty criminal cases involving at least: Thirty negotiated pleas, dismissals, or other non-trial dispositions, at least ten of which occurred post-indictment; Ten preliminary hearings in which oral testimony was taken and a decision rendered, or fifteen litigated motions in which oral testimony was taken and a decision rendered, at least eight of which occurred post-indictment; Five post-indictment jury trials which proceeded to verdict as sole attorney or lead counsel and eight as co-counsel; Cross-examination, during trial, of at least four of the following: police officers; laboratory technicians; undercover agents; psychiatrists or psychologists; ballistics experts; fingerprint expert
The ability and dedication to work with experts in technical areas like DNA, fingerprint, hair analysis, cell phone triangulation, etc.
Must possess the high level of organizational and administrative skills required to handle a caseload of homicides.
Must possess strong writing skills.

Nice To Haves

Preference is given to attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar or who are awaiting admission.
Bi-lingual (Spanish) attorneys are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Provide vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to residents of Northern Manhattan in Manhattan’s criminal courts.
Engage in frequent court appearances and litigation, including arraignments, grand jury presentations, legal arguments, hearings and trials.
Ability to be “on call”, when scheduled to be on intake, from 9am – 11pm to arraign new homicide defense clients. Intake shifts are scheduled between homicide qualified attorneys.
Interview clients and their families in the office or local jails, conduct legal research and write pre-pleading letters, motions and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients.
Direct and coordinate work performed by team members (investigator, mitigation specialist and paralegal) along with at least one other staff attorney as a second seat.
Work with cross-practice colleagues (family defense, immigration defense, housing defense and other civil defense) to obtain comprehensive legal outcomes for clients.
Review, digest and organize discovery and be responsible for complying with reciprocal discovery rules.
File motions, briefs and other related documents on a frequent, timely basis.
Provide effective oral advocacy in negotiations and arguments in homicide cases.
Flexibility as it relates to work location—attorneys will be expected to split their time between Manhattan’s downtown courts and the main office in Central Harlem.
Ability to collaborate with and provide mentorship to less experienced staff and train within NDS on emerging issues in homicide defense.
Responsiveness and ability to communicate clearly with clients who are often under great stress.