ABOUT US
The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading holistic legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality appellate representation to indigent people in New York City. 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 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 a staff attorney to join the Plea Project. The plea project attorney will be a member of the bargaining unit. CAL is assigned to represent New Yorkers convicted of crimes in Manhattan and the Bronx in their criminal appeals and other post-conviction proceedings.
We pride ourselves on adopting dynamic approaches to serve our clients and challenge the status quo. Outside of the courtroom, we work tirelessly to center and protect our clients’ well-being through the work of our Anti-Racism Working Group, Legislative Advocacy Committee, and array of Client Support Service projects. Our clients are among society’s most disenfranchised—people who have been convicted and imprisoned—and we work hard to live up to their trust. 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.
The Plea Project staff attorney will handle a significant caseload of direct appeals from felony guilty pleas. Where the appeal presents the possibility of plea withdrawal, the attorney will be responsible for carefully evaluating the potential harms and risks associated with vacating the pleas and discussing those issues with their clients in letters, phone calls, and in person visits. In cases where no plea-withdrawal issue is presented or where clients do not want to take the risks of seeking plea withdrawal, the attorney will be responsible for drafting briefs with risk-free issues (frequently excessive sentencing or suppression claims) or obtaining a stipulation of withdrawal from the client. The attorney will draft reply briefs, orally argue in the Appellate Division, and seek leave to appeal from the New York Court of Appeals in appropriate cases. So-called “Anders” or no merits briefs are rarely filed. Because of the nature of guilty-plea appeals, the Plea Project staff attorney’s caseload will be larger than other staff attorneys.
QUALIFICATIONS
All applicants must have:
Spanish fluency is preferred, but not required.
LOCATION
The position is based at CAL’s New York City office. CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and attorneys are permitted to work remotely 8-10 days per month.
SALARY
Starting salary will be at least $77,000 for a 2023 graduate and at least $104,000 for a 2014 graduate. 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, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply. CAL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration 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.
ABOUT US
The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading holistic legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality appellate representation to indigent people in New York City. We are committed to ensuring that…
CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.
CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.
Spanish fluency is preferred, but not required.
Spanish fluency is preferred, but not required.
Applications should be submitted by May 31, 2024, through the following Google form link:
https://bit.ly/3QVtn7y (Applicants without a Gmail account may email their materials to jobs@cfal.org. Please do not submit via both the form and the email address).
Applications MUST include a resume, cover letter, and writing sample in one PDF document, with the cover letter addressed to:
Jenay Nurse Guilford
Executive Director
Center for Appellate Litigation
120 Wall Street, 28th Floor
New York, NY 10005-4003
Because of the expected high number of applications, we ask that applicants not contact the office to inquire about the status of their application.
Applications should be submitted by May 31, 2024, through the following Google form link:
https://bit.ly/3QVtn7y (Applicants without a Gmail account may email their materials to jobs…