Immigrant Justice Practice Staff Attorney

ABOUT US

The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading holistic legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality representation to low-income New Yorkers. We are committed to ensuring that every individual has access to fair and just legal representation in the appellate courts and in a full panoply of post-conviction litigation. Our mission is to fight injustice through exceptional advocacy and enduring compassion for each client. We envision a post-conviction process grounded in our clients’ humanity. Our team of dedicated attorneys, paralegals, and staff work tirelessly to advocate for our clients’ rights and uphold the principles of justice.

POSITION OVERVIEW

CAL is seeking to hire an experienced attorney to join our Immigration Justice Practice (IJP). IJP, one of the first and largest practice groups of its kind in the country, zealously pursues the full range of post-conviction remedies for our noncitizen clients to advance their rights, protect them from the threat of immigration detention and deportation, and keep them united with their families and communities here in the United States.

Members of our IJP team seek post-conviction relief in trial courts in the Bronx and Manhattan through both negotiated and adversarial motions and hearings to vacate convictions, as well as represent clients in occasional appellate cases at the Appellate Division and Appellate Term, First Department. We pride ourselves on a commitment to dynamic and high-quality written and oral advocacy, a client-centered approach to representation, and a collaborative team environment.

The attorney will be a member of the bargaining unit.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current admission in good standing with the New York bar
• At least two (2) years of relevant legal experience, preferably involving the intersection of criminal and immigration law
• Excellent analytical, legal and mitigation writing, research, oral advocacy, and negotiation skills
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, manage a multi-faceted caseload, and be a team player
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and diligent work ethic
• Empathy and respect for people who have been convicted of crimes and a commitment to advocating on their behalf
• Experience serving and/or advocating for disenfranchised communities
• Willingness and ability to work within the dehumanizing environments of prisons, jails, and detention facilities
• Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish or another language other than English is strongly preferred

LOCATION

The position is based at CAL’s New York City office. CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and staff attorneys are permitted to work remotely 8 to 14 days per month depending on their tenure at CAL.

SALARY

Salary will be commensurate with experience according to an established step system. The base salary is at least $91,141 for a 2024 graduateand $133,128 for a 2011 graduate with an additional $3,000 language differential for candidates who are fluent in Spanish or another second language commonly used in our practice. CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At CAL, we embrace and value our staff’s diversity, recognizing that our differences strengthen our community and advance our mission. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, orientation experiences, and communities to apply. CAL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receiveconsideration for employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, citizenship status, color, credit history, creed, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion, salary history, sexual and reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, status as a covered veteran or active military service member, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.

Fluency or high proficiency in Spanish or another language other than English is strongly preferred