Staff Attorney Wrongful Conviction

Appellate Advocates is a nonprofit public defender organization, based in New York City, providing high-quality representation of individuals who have been convicted of crimes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island and cannot afford private lawyers. Our attorneys, from a variety of diverse backgrounds, are experienced in criminal law and believe in a holistic, client centered approach to vindicating every client’s constitutional rights, working to overturn unjust convictions and sentences, and assisting with reentry to the community upon release. While our main work is criminal appeals, we also represent clients who, asserting actual innocence, were wrongly convicted. In representing an actually innocent client, we reinvestigate not only the existing evidence leading up to the conviction, but look for and examine new facts, and file motions or petitions seeking exoneration or other post-conviction relief. Appellate Advocates is deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. To this end, we seek to:

• Hire staff that reflect the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic identities of

the communities we represent, particularly those communities disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system.

• Ensure a workplace where diversity and inclusion are fostered and different perspectives are

valued and freely exchanged; and

• Ensure that all staff members feel welcome, respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the organization.

Position Description: We are seeking to hire immediately an experienced criminal defense attorney to work on actual innocence and wrongful conviction investigations and briefing as well as criminal appeals from trial convictions.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of three years of indigent criminal defense experience, with experience in New York preferred. Criminal trial appellate experience strongly preferred.
• A demonstrated commitment to criminal defense and social justice
• Strong research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Strong analytical skills
• A self-directed ability to prepare an investigation plan and manage an active caseload
• New York State bar admission required

Salary and benefits: Salary is commensurate with experience based on a collective bargained scale, with a range from $83,585-$142,250. Appellate Advocates offers a generous benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k), flexible spending and transit account, and paid sick and vacation time.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of references as a single PDF to apply@appad.org, referencing “Staff Attorney Position-Wrongful Conviction” in the subject line by February 27, 20026. Applicants with disabilities may contact Melissa Taveras via telephone (212-693-0085 ext.252) or e-mail apply@appad.org to request and arrange for accommodations for submitting an application.

Appellate Advocates is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. Appellate Advocates is deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and seeks to hire staff that reflect the full range of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic identities of the communities we represent, particularly those communities disproportionately affected by the criminal legal system. We strongly encourage people historically underrepresented in the practice of law to apply.

Appellate Advocates offers a generous benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k), flexible spending and transit account, and paid sick and vacation time.

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