New York, NY: Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, Staff Attorneys and Caseworker/Mitigation Specialist
The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is accepting applications for two staff attorney positions, as well as the position of a caseworker/mitigation specialist. NDS is a community-based, holistic public defender office located in Harlem. NDS represents residents of Northern Manhattan who are charged with crimes or under threat of arrest, who cannot afford to hire lawyers. NDS is seeking two lawyers (one position requires fluency in Spanish) with a demonstrated commitment to criminal justice issues, social justice issues, and/or the Harlem communities. In addition, the job requires energy and enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to the interests of the clients. Applicants must possess strong writing skills, a demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and efficiently through writing, and must have a high level of organizational skills in order to handle a large caseload. Applicants must be able to work under pressure in an atmosphere of frequent emergencies and tight deadlines. For more information on these positions, click here. NDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
NYC: Legal Aid Society DNA Initiative Attorneys
The Criminal Defense Practice Unit of the Legal Aid Society is looking for attorneys to fill two positions in their citywide DNA Initiative. For more information, click on the appropriate title: Supervising Attorney (PDF) and Staff Attorney (PDF).
Washington, DC: Defender Counsel
The National Legal Aid & Defender Association is seeking a Defender Counsel for Defender Legal Services. The duties of the Defender Counsel will be to advance the equal justice agenda through the development and dissemination of research and information. The Defender Counsel will utilize the Association's website and publications, and list services and training conferences to provide the indigent defense community with ready access to essential resources. The Defender Counsel will provide direct support to advance the Division's initiatives and priorities. For more information, click here.
Oneida County, NY: Oneida County Public Defender – Criminal Division
The Oneida County Public Defender is looking for an Assistant Public Defender (Criminal Division) – 3rd Assistant. For more information, click here (PDF).
New York, NY: The Innocence Project, Staff Attorney
The Innocence Project seeks a Staff Attorney to join our Litigation Department and represent clients around the nation seeking access to post-conviction DNA testing and/or relief from their convictions based on exculpatory DNA test results. Working under the supervision of the Managing Attorney and the Innocence Project's Co-Directors, the Staff Attorney will manage a post-conviction docket, craft litigation strategy, write motions, negotiate with prosecutors, conduct hearings, supervise paralegals, and communicate with clients and family members regarding their cases. The Staff Attorney will also instruct and supervise clinic students from Cardozo School of Law who assist in the representation of clients during their full year clinic at the Innocence Project. Requirements: minimum 4 years' litigation experience, preferably some criminal (trial or post-conviction practice), as well as admission to one or more state bars; ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment; excellent analytic and writing skills, and ability to construct cogent arguments; great interpersonal and verbal communication skills; understanding of DNA testing; knowledge of other forensic disciplines; client-centered approach to legal representation; honed organizational skills and the ability to prioritize cases; interest in working with diverse range of people; ability to assess work of students and paralegals, and constructively supervise their work; and enthusiasm for social justice and the work of the Innocence Project, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and criminal justice reform. Salary: DOE. Excellent benefits package. The Innocence Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. For more information, click here.
New York, NY: Brennan Center for Justice, Fair Courts Litigation Specialist
The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law is a non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. A singular institution – part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group – the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, and communications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector. The Center's Democracy Program advances and defends core democratic values through its work on a broad range of issues. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is seeking an experienced litigator to launch and defend litigation across the country aimed at ensuring a fair and impartial judiciary and preserving and advancing reforms of the judicial system. The attorney will manage a docket of cases and will work closely with partner organizations in a Fair Courts Litigation Task Force to develop a national litigation strategy to minimize the influence of money and partisan politics on our state judiciaries. Task Force member organizations will include the Justice at Stake Campaign, Campaign Legal Center, American Judicature Society, and others. The Brennan Center, an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, is strongly committed to diversity and welcomes applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations, and applicants who have been previously incarcerated. For more information, click here.
The Council of State Governments, Justice Center: Various Positions
The Justice Center provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies informed by available evidence, to increase public safety and strengthen communities. The Justice Center is a nonprofit organization that works closely with legislative leaders, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, victim advocates, and others to develop consensus on various, often highly politicized, criminal justice issues and to translate this consensus into comprehensive reports, policy briefs, state and federal legislation, model policies, and innovative programs. Current openings include: Senior Policy Analyst, Justice Reinvestment (New York or Seattle); Program Director, Reentry (New York); Policy Associate, Courts Program (New York); and Project Associate, Consensus Project. For more information about these and other opportunities, click here.
Orange County, NY: Summer Internship
Summer Internship, Criminal/Family Law; 10 week position, salary $480 per week. Completion of 1 year of law school and a course in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, or Family Law required by start date. Intern will assist in research and investigations, appear with lawyers in the County's criminal and Family Courts, and conduct interviews with clients. Cover letter, resume to gabramson@lasocny.org
New York, NY: New York Civil Liberties Union, Legislative Counsel
The New York Civil Liberties Union seeks to employ for the position of Legislative Counsel an individual who, under the supervision of the Legislative Director, will play a key role in the organization’s efforts to promote and defend civil rights and civil liberties in the legislative and public policy arenas. Experience and Qualifications: JD required, candidates with at least two years of legal or public policy experience are preferred; demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of civil liberties and civil rights; excellent legal research, writing, and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively; an understanding of the legislative process, and experience in organizing and working with coalitions to achieve legislative goals; an ability to explain clearly and persuasively, to experts and non-experts, the NYCLU’s analysis of legal principles and related public policy issues; applicants should possess initiative and the capacity to work effectively when faced with time constraints. To apply, email a cover letter with salary requirements, resume, and writing samples- such as research memo, article or brief – tojobs@nyclu.org with “Legislative Counsel” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. The NYCLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. For more information, click here.
Monroe County: Public Defender's Office
The Monroe County Public Defender is accepting resumes for an entry-level position as an assistant public defender in the Town Court Bureau. In this position the attorney would be responsible for representing persons charged with misdemeanors or violations in town courts throughout Monroe County. Starting salary is $51,154 with excellent benefits, including full health insurance, dental, vacation, sick time, compensatory time, and membership in the NYS Retirement System. Applicants must be admitted to practice in New York and have a valid driver's license. All employees of Monroe County are required to reside within Monroe County. Interested applicants should submit a resume to the Monroe County Public Defender's Office, 10 N. Fitzhugh Street, Rochester, NY 14614.
New York, NY: Vera Institute of Justice, Project Director, Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education Initiative
With generous support from national foundations, Vera will be designing, implementing and evaluating a new demonstration project with sites in four states. The new demonstration project seeks to provide state inmates access to in-prison postsecondary education and other support services during the two years prior to release from prison. The demonstration project will also support access to postsecondary education and other re-entry services for these inmates during the two years immediately after release from prison. The Vera Institute of Justice seeks an experienced Project Director for this new multi-state demonstration project. This position will be housed in Vera's Center on Sentencing and Corrections and based in Vera's New York City office. Salary CWE and excellent benefits. The Vera Institute of Justice values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, click here.
New York, NY: Fordham University School of Law, Clinical Teaching Fellowship
Fordham's Community Economic Development Clinic is offering a Teaching Fellowship starting August 2012. The Fellow will work with experienced CED practitioner Brian Glick. S/he will help supervise students in client representation and co-teach the CED Clinic seminar and is expected to participate actively in the life of our clinical program and law school. We expect the Fellow to be with us for two years. Fordham's CED Clinic represents New York City groups fighting for social justice in low-income communities of color and low-wage, predominantly immigrant workforces. As their general counsel the clinic helps sustain effective organizations and build institutions--health clinics, childcare centers, worker-owned enterprises--that empower their participants while providing desperately needed services and opportunities. The clinic supports neighborhood efforts to shape development, limit gentrification and win community benefits agreements. It also assists small grassroots groups with incorporation, bylaws and tax exemption. Students learn transactional business lawyering in a nonprofit social justice setting. We seek an attorney with at least two years' experience, preferably more, who is interested in pursuing a career in clinical teaching. Spanish fluency and transactional or social justice lawyering experience preferred. Fordham is an equal opportunity employer. Lawyers from the types of communities served by the CED Clinic are especially encouraged to apply. For more information, click here.
NYSDA Internship Programs Public Interest Employment
Law Internship Program in Albany, NY
Internships are available for law students who want to gain experience in legal research and criminal law. Students can earn academic credit through Albany Law School or any participating institution. Law students work on a variety of criminal defense research projects, and participate in the preparation of case summaries for NYSDA's publications and databases. During the summer, law student interns are eligible to work along with staff and observe NYSDA's Basic Trial Skills Program for new attorneys. Send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to:
Charles F. O'Brien
Managing Attorney
New York State Defenders Association
194 Washington Ave, Suite 500
Albany, NY 12210
Email: cobrien@nysda.org
Phone: (518) 465-3524
Fax: (518) 465-3249
Criminal Justice Internship Program in Albany, NY
Internships are available for students who want to gain experience in criminal justice research. Students can earn academic credit through the SUNY School of Criminal Justice in Albany or any participating institution. Among its many responsibilities, NYSDA engages in the following activities: providing technical assistance to public defense providers and local, state and government officials; reviewing and analyzing public defense and relevant criminal justice research studies, reports and literature; assisting in evaluation of county public defense systems; undertaking public defense data collection, including caseload, budget and expenditure data; designing survey instruments; and assisting in reviewing and analyzing public defense legislation. The criminal justice intern works under the supervision of the Executive Director and Managing Attorney to fulfill the office's social science research needs. Send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to:
Charles F. O'Brien
Managing Attorney
New York State Defenders Association
194 Washington Ave, Suite 500
Albany, NY 12210
Email: cobrien@nysda.org
Phone: (518) 465-3524
Fax: (518) 465-3249
Library Internship Program in Albany, NY
Internships are available for students who want to gain experience in librarianship or information science. Students can earn academic credit through the School of Information Science and Policy, University at Albany or any participating library school. The Backup Center Library plays a key role in NYSDA's mission by providing research and support services to staff lawyers, public defense attorneys and government officials. Library Interns, working under the supervision of Director of Legal Information Services, will have the opportunity to interact with professional staff, government agencies, vendors and publishers. Interns will work in any or all of the following areas: reference and research, collection development, cataloging, indexing and database management, records management and space planning. Send a cover letter and resume (preferably by email) to:
Ken Strutin
Director of Legal Information Services
New York State Defenders Association
194 Washington Ave, Suite 500
Albany, NY 12210
Email: kstrutin@nysda.org
Phone: (518) 465-3524
Fax: (518) 465-3249
