SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY, REINVESTIGATION PROJECT

POSITION SUMMARY:

A Reinvestigation Senior Staff Attorney at OAD is a permanent staff member who reports to Supervising Attorneys and is expected to work with minimal supervision. As a Reinvestigation Senior Staff Attorney, you will serve in a hybrid role which features work in both OAD's appellate and post-conviction practice, and its Reinvestigation Project. The successful candidate is well-versed in wrongful conviction issues, has a proven track record in case investigation, has significant experience in criminal defense trial, appellate, and/or post-conviction litigation, and possesses strong written and oral advocacy skills. As a Reinvestigation Senior Staff Attorney, you have a demonstrated commitment to representing people who are indigent and have been convicted of crimes, and will be energized by the opportunity to leverage your knowledge and experience for OAD’s continued success and sustainability.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carry a caseload consisting of direct appeals, post-conviction motions and hearings pursuant to NY CPL 440, wrongful conviction reinvestigation cases, and other post-conviction relief such as hearings to determine classification level pursuant to SORA; federal habeas corpus challenges to state court convictions; and parole proceedings and re-entry preparation.

• Collaborate with New York City criminal defense practitioners including conviction integrity units in prosecutorial offices.

• Work extensively in case investigation and exhibit or gain expertise with wrongful conviction issues such as eyewitness identification and false confessions.

• Develop the attorney-client relationship by visiting incarcerated clients and communicating with them through a trauma-informed lens.

• Set and meet quarterly case goals as well as adhering to organizational and administrative protocols and policies.

• Advise clients on all potential appellate options, including withdrawal of guilty pleas, where appropriate, as well as negotiating pleas or other remedies following reversal of convictions.

• Develop leadership and supervision skills by working with legal interns on all aspects of client representation by conferencing issues, developing strategy, reviewing, and revising briefs.

• Participate with all legal staff to prepare and moot for oral arguments

QUALIFICATIONS:

• You are a member, in good standing, of a bar in any jurisdiction and possess or can obtain immediate NY licensure. You graduated from law school in 2016-2020, have performed case investigations, and possess extensive experience in criminal defense trial, appellate, and/or post-conviction litigation; excellent research, writing and oral argument skills; and a demonstrated commitment to public defense work.

• You possess a people-centric and inclusive approach to managing relationships in the workplace. You do not fear change and are solution-oriented when differences arise and consider innovative and creative approaches to advocacy.

• 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.

• 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 benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.