Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense (Felony Experience)

The Legal Aid Society • New York, NY

4h • $86,520 - $157,075

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society is hiring experienced trial attorneys for its Criminal Defense Practice Trial offices throughout New York City. The Criminal Defense Practice is New York City's primary public defender, providing holistic, client-centered vertical representation to people facing misdemeanor, felony, and homicide charges.

Staff Attorneys provide zealous advocacy throughout all phases of a person's criminal legal matter, from arraignment through hearings and trial or plea negotiations, as well as related proceedings. Attorneys must have experience representing clients charged with serious felony matters, including first-chairing hearings and trials, negotiating pleas, and working with paid experts. The ideal candidate is an admitted New York State criminal defense attorney committed to serving marginalized people and communities, with extensive criminal defense litigation and advocacy experience and a commitment to client-centered advocacy informed by racial and gender equity and social and economic justice. Attorneys collaborate with other defense professionals to shape defense and litigation strategy.

Requirements

• At least three years of demonstrated commitment to public defense, racial equity, and social justice.
• At least two years of experience representing clients in felony matters in New York State or another jurisdiction.
• Demonstrated litigation experience in pretrial suppression hearings and jury trials.
• Track record of strategically guiding casework, projects, or relationships, applying good judgment, and persistently overcoming roadblocks to achieve goals.
• Ability to work collaboratively and in community with other office members.
• Clear and effective oral and written advocacy, strong organization, and ability to meet multiple competing deadlines.
• Admission to the New York State Bar, or ability to waive into New York State from another jurisdiction.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit.

Responsibilities

• Provide client-centered, comprehensive representation from arraignment through trial, disposition, or dismissal.
• Represent clients at arraignments, including interviewing clients, connecting with family and others to support bail advocacy, coordinating with supervised release and social workers to address client needs, presenting bail arguments, and making appropriate referrals.
• Prepare cases for advocacy and litigation, including referring cases for investigation or social work services and to community-based programming as needed, gathering information, and researching law.
• Conduct bail review hearings and writs of habeas corpus to secure clients' liberty after arraignment.
• Coordinate with specialty units, including DNA, Digital Forensics, Decarceration, and Immigration, to assist with advocacy.
• Consult and coordinate with supervising attorneys for case reviews.
• Review discovery materials to challenge certificates of discovery compliance, contest statements of readiness, secure disclosures required by discovery law, and prepare for litigation.
• Conduct preliminary hearings, Crawford hearings, suppression hearings, other pretrial hearings, and trials.
• Prepare mitigation materials to advocate for diversion courts and community-based programs or for sentencing.
• Advise clients and enter appropriate pleas in consultation with and with the consent of clients, addressing collateral consequences.
• File appropriate notices of appeal and coordinate with appellate counsel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid vacation
• Disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Eligibility to participate in Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other state and federal loan forgiveness programs
• New York residents may be eligible for New York State loan repayment assistance, depending on years of practice

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed