Staff Attorney, Parole Revocation Defense Unit bei The Legal Aid Society

The Parole Revocation Defense Unit has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney. PRDU represents clients accused of violating the conditions of their release at parole revocation and recognizance hearings in courtroom locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens as well as other NYC-located offices and facilities. Our Staff Attorneys also appear on behalf of clients at related habeas corpus proceedings, administrative and criminal court parole appeals, and other post‐conviction proceedings. The practice is fast‐paced and litigation‐intensive.

This position is with the PRDU writ team. This team is primarily involved in preparing, filing and appearing on writs of habeas corpus, Article 78’s proceedings, and related appellate filings for PRDU clients. The staff attorney position will focus on the preparation and filing of parole criminal court and administrative parole board appeals under Executive Law 259-I 4 and 4 (a). When not engaged in filing parole appeals, the attorney will be expected to litigate Article 78 proceedings and writs of habeas corpus.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the unit’s staff attorneys and paralegal client advocates in identifying and developing relevant legal issues that arise in the areas of parole revocation, sentencing and constitutional law which will form the basis for post-revocation litigation and appeals
• Prepare and submit administrative and criminal court parole appeals, writs of habeas corpus and Article 78’s.
• Handle a small caseload of parole revocation cases
• Partner with PRDU social work team, investigators and paralegal staff to identify and develop mitigation and legal defenses for the unit’s clients

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• NYS Bar Admission
• 3 years of relevant experience preferred; 2 years of experience will be considered
• Strong research and writing skills
• Strong courtroom skills
• A background in criminal and/or administrative law or prison-related litigation is preferred
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles. 

Salary Range: $84,000- $152,500

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits. 

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness 

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.  

studentaid.gov 

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs 

WORK AUTHORIZATION 

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.) 

HOW TO APPLY 

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF: 

• Cover Letter 
• Resume  

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email [email protected]. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.