Role: Staff Attorney Fellowship Term: 5 years Salary: $74,908.80 - $86,353.20 Overview of the role A Staff Attorney will be responsible for representing people who cannot afford legal representation and who have been convicted of felonies in Manhattan and the Bronx on direct appeals. Staff attorneys are closely supervised by Supervising Attorneys through a process called “double teaming.” Our “double teaming” method strives to improve the quality of appellate advocacy by training staff attorneys to hone in on the best issues for appeal, tell our client’s stories effectively, and to identify and pursue other forms of advocacy that are most effective for each client’s unique circumstance. Under the “double teaming” method, the Supervisor assigned to the case reads the appellate record and works closely with the Staff Attorney to identify issues and develop a theory of the case. The Supervisor also edits drafts of the briefs and helps to prepare the Staff Attorney for oral argument. Each oral argument is mooted by the Supervisor and a team of colleagues. After five years of this intensive, hands-on training, OAD Staff Attorneys depart, prepared to provide zealous representation to clients at all stages of the criminal judicial process. Who You Are <ul> <li>Experienced. You are a member, in good standing, of a bar in any jurisdiction and possess or can obtain NY licensure within a reasonable time. Prior criminal defense experience, particularly at the appellate level, is highly preferred. This includes pro bono work, participation in law school clinics and internships.</li> <li>Culturally Aware and Sensitive. 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.</li> <li>Clear Communicator. 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.</li> <li>Collaborative. You work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment to best address client needs.</li> <li>Passionate. You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system.</li> <li>Agile. You 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.</li> </ul> What You Will Do <ul> <li>Represent people who cannot afford legal representation convicted of felonies in Manhattan and the Bronx on direct appeal in the Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals; in post-conviction motions and hearings; in hearings to determine classification level pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA); and in federal habeas corpus challenges to state court convictions.</li> <li>Extensive research and writing of appellate briefs.</li> <li>Case conferencing, strategy development, client communication, and legal visits.</li> <li>Advising clients of potential appellate options, including withdrawal of appeals where appropriate.</li> <li>Collaborating with the Client Services Director and Client Services Coordinators to address prison condition issues and to assist clients with parole proceedings and re-entry preparation.</li> </ul> Benefits <ul> <li>Generous vacation time and 14 paid holidays, including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.</li> <li>401(k) with a defined contribution of 3% from OAD regardless of participation.</li> <li>Personal, Bereavement and sick days given on the first day of employment.</li> <li>Comprehensive health, dental, vision and life benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.</li> <li>Free access to the Practicing Law Institute for CLE credits and professional development.</li> </ul> Your Application To join our community, please apply with a cover letter, resume and writing sample here. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must: (1) explain your alignment with OAD’s mission, values and/or advocacy approach; and (2) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate. Please note that OAD requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID and provide a vaccination record at the start of employment

Staff Attorney Fellowship

Office of The Appellate Defender