Supervising Attorney, Prisoners’ Rights Project (PRP)

The Legal Aid Society•New York, NY

3d•$102,120 - $172,675•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice seeks an experienced, committed, and talented lawyer to join a team of skilled advocates as a Supervising Attorney in the Prisoners’ Rights Project (PRP). The Prisoners’ Rights Project works to protect the legal rights of people incarcerated in New York City jails and New York State prisons. They achieve this through impact litigation seeking systemic reforms, often as class actions in federal and state courts; legislative and oversight advocacy; policy change; and administrative advocacy directly with correctional, medical, and other agencies. Priority areas for the PRP include health and safety, such as challenging excessive force, protection from solitary confinement, sexual abuse, protection of LGBTQI people in custody, safe conditions of confinement, access to medical and mental health care, and treatment of prisoners with disabilities. A significant portion of their work involves post-judgment enforcement of relief. Litigation is often co-counseled with pro bono law firms, and collaboration among Legal Aid practices is frequent.

Requirements

Admission to the New York bar, or eligibility to waive into New York bar
Minimum 8 years of litigation experience, with a strong preference for experience in civil rights, prisoners’ rights litigation, New York correctional agencies, or law reform litigation (applicants with more experience are encouraged to apply)
Demonstrated strong commitment to racial equity and civil rights
Demonstrated ability to engage in and communicate complex legal analysis
Excellent writing, litigation and advocacy skills
Collegiality and ability to work in and value diverse teams
Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
Deep substantive knowledge of civil litigation techniques
Demonstrated excellent legal analysis
Demonstrated strong writing skills
Ability to foster and encourage teamwork and communication
Ability to consciously create and enhance a diverse workplace culture that is supportive, collaborative and affirming to clients and colleagues
Ability to monitor and maintain a high standard of professionalism, representation and client service in all aspects of work, including maintaining excellent communication with incarcerated clients and others
Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed.
Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable.
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.
Reinforce and maintain staff accountability and morale
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

Nice To Haves

Experience litigating class cases and enforcing consent decrees
Experience with policy advocacy
Experience supervising lawyers and legal staff

Responsibilities

Maintain an active caseload of pending and new litigation to advance PRP’s goals.
Together with other supervising attorneys, oversee integration of individual client intake and advocacy into policy and litigation.
Substantively direct legislative and administratively policy initiatives, frequently in close collaboration with other units of Legal Aid and external stakeholders.
Engage directly in all aspects of litigation and collaborate with other attorneys in setting litigation strategy and priorities and managing cases.
Work collaboratively and collegially with pro bono counsel and colleagues in other parts of Legal Aid; community groups; legislators, and other stakeholders.
Conduct and participate in community education, training, media, and outreach to educate the public as well as other legal professionals and to promote the work of PRP.
Assist the Director of PRP in the daily operations and direct supervision of the legal work of the unit.
Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures.
Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources.
Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed.
Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed.
General managerial duties, administrative tasks, and data collection.
Identify and implement unit management and accountability practices to improve performance.
Resolve employee conflict, complaints, and address union concerns, with guidance from Human Resources.
Hire and supervise interns and volunteers.
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.