Job Description

About the Organization The Office of the Appellate Defender is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 35 years, OAD has stood as a beacon of hope for people at the intersection of poverty and injustice. Our clients have been convicted of felony offenses in Manhattan and/or the Bronx and have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and post-release supervision. Despite the circumstances of our clients' offenses, convictions, and sentences, we believe in the humanity and dignity of every human being which informs our client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. We are a beloved community of colleagues who are dedicated to public defense, access to justice, and racial equity.

Description

Role: Supervising Attorney

Location: New York, Lower Manhattan

Hours: Full-time, Hybrid

Salary: $129,415.00 - $157,459.00

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE APPELLATE DEFENDER (OAD):

OAD is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 38 years, OAD has stood as a beacon of hope for people at the intersection of poverty and injustice. Our clients have been convicted of felony offenses in Manhattan and/or the Bronx and have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and post-release supervision. Despite the circumstances of our clients' offenses, convictions, and sentences, we believe in the humanity and dignity of every human being which informs our client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. We are a beloved community of colleagues who are dedicated to public defense, access to justice, and racial equity.

ROLE OVERVIEW

A Supervising Attorney at OAD is a member of the management team and reports to the Deputy Attorney-in-Charge. You will provide guidance in appellate representation and post-conviction relief to staff attorneys using appropriate leadership models, including our 'double-team' model, working from case inception to completion, and engaging in formal training and mentorship. The successful candidate has a proven track record of supporting team members in advocating for clients who have been marginalized and is energized by the opportunity to leverage that knowledge and experience for OAD's continued success and sustainability.

Every staff member is expected to incorporate OAD's core values Human-Centered practice, Zealous Representation and Advocacy, Respect and Civility, Trust, and Collaboration into their work and interactions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Providing holistic post-conviction representation to indigent persons convicted of felonies in Manhattan and the Bronx, including but not limited to:
  • Litigating direct appeals in the Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals, including assisting with intake evaluation of cases;
  • Advising clients as to all potential appellate options, including withdrawal of appeals, where appropriate, as well as negotiating alternative dispositions such as substituted pleas or remedies following reversal of conviction;
  • Litigating post-conviction motions and hearings challenging the lawfulness and appropriateness of convictions and sentences pursuant to Article 440 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law, as well as engaging in reinvestigation efforts as necessary;
  • Litigating hearings to determine classification level pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA);
  • Litigating, where appropriate, federal habeas corpus challenges to state court convictions; and
  • Assisting with parole proceedings and reentry preparation.
• Supervising staff attorneys, pro bono attorneys, and law student interns on all aspects of client representation through OAD's 'double-teaming' model, including but not limited to:
  • Development of case theory: familiarity with case records, issue conferencing, and strategy development;
  • Drafting of pleadings: editing and framing of briefs, leave applications, post-conviction motions;
  • Preparing for oral argument: mooting and issue selection; and
  • Providing guidance on the attorney-client relationship: client communication, legal visits, and issues of race, gender, mental health, and the trauma of incarceration.
• Training attorneys on staff and outside the organization, including but not limited to:
  • Regular training programs for incoming staff attorneys and pro bono attorneys on substantive, procedural, and practice-oriented criminal law topics;
  • CLE and training programs for outside defender organizations and assigned counsel;
  • Mentorship of staff attorneys in one‑on‑one and group settings; and
  • Providing feedback and evaluations for staff attorneys.
• Participate in office management, including but not limited to:
  • Guide and advise supervisees regarding office-wide legal policies and best practices;
  • Develop and manage a particular legal advocacy project or administrative aspect of OAD's practice; and
  • Supervision and management of caseloads for staff attorneys

• Carry a small caseload.

QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. degree, with at least 10 years of litigation experience and a strong preference for at least 4 years of appellate criminal litigation.
• Admission to the New York Bar, or ability to secure immediate admission to the New York Bar pursuant to 22 NYCRR § 520.10.
• Supervisory and management experience, including people, docket, and case management.

• Excellent research, writing and oral argument skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to public defense; and the ability to train others in these areas. You have supervised other individuals and/or managed a project with multiple team members.
• You have the demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage others of varying experience levels.
• You possess a people-centric, collaborative, and inclusive approach to managing relationships in the workplace.
• You do not fear change and are solution-oriented when differences arise.
• You challenge others to seek innovative and creative approaches to advocacy; and encourage ongoing development by providing effective performance feedback and evaluation.
• You understand what it means to work with and for individuals whose backgrounds and lived experiences are different from your own with sensitivity and humility.
• You are willing to learn more about the impacted and marginalized identities of people served by the organization and bring your awareness to all the work you do.
• You can communicate clearly and concisely. You provide useful feedback to the people working with you.
• You adopt an organizational voice to ensure written or oral communications are consistent with the inclusive culture we strive to maintain and build upon.
• You work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment to best address client needs.
• You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system.
• You have strong organizational and case management skills and have demonstrated success navigating gray areas in the law and working with competing priorities.
• You maintain composure and positivity in stressful situations. You are willing to take on new projects as the needs of the office or practice change.

BENEFITS

• Generous vacation time and 14 paid holidays, including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.
• 401(k) with a defined contribution of 3.5% from OAD regardless of participation.
• Personal, bereavement, and sick days given on the first day of employment.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. OAD is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. OAD will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. We encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for this role.

OAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

You are eligible to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

This position is currently accepting applications.

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