NYSDA is currently seeking applications for the following positions.

Staff Attorney, Discovery and Forensic Support Unit, Public Defense Backup Center
The New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) is seeking applications for Staff Attorneys to work in our Discovery and Forensic Support Unit within the Public Defense Backup Center. NYSDA’s Backup Center promotes excellence in legal representation for low-income people who are involved in the criminal and family court systems throughout the State of New York. This is an exciting opportunity for experienced lawyers who are passionate about elevating public defense and supporting defenders statewide. The Backup Center identifies best practices and emerging challenges to high-quality legal assistance and provides public defenders and assigned counsel with support and resources to assist in and elevate their work on behalf of clients.

NYSDA, a not-for-profit, membership organization, has been responding to the need for support of New York's public defense community since 1967. NYSDA’s mission is to improve the quality and scope of publicly supported legal representation to people who cannot afford counsel. In addition to the Backup Center, NYSDA provides services through its Veterans Defense Program, Public Defense Recruitment and Retention Program, and Public Defense Case Management System. NYSDA also offers high-quality training to public defense attorneys, investigators, social workers, and other members of the public defense community. The Backup Center is instrumental in assisting defenders around the state to advance quality representation in criminal and family court cases. Our Backup Center Staff Attorneys have a wide variety of experiences and expertise.

Staff Attorneys in our Discovery and Forensic Support Unit act as resource attorneys, providing specialized forensic support and guidance to defenders and other members of defense teams through case consultations, legal research, training, development of resource guides and other publications, expert witness referrals, and short- and long-term projects.

Duties and Responsibilities
• Prepare regular updates on legal developments for the public defense community.
• Provide case consultations to defense attorneys in criminal and family court cases.
• Provide referrals to experts and other professionals for defense attorneys.
• Develop resource materials and best practices guides for defenders and defense offices regarding substantive and procedural issues.
• Stay up to date on best practices, trends, caselaw developments, and legislative proposals in New York and other states.
• Other responsibilities and projects assigned by the Executive Director or Deputy Director.

Qualifications and Experience
• Admitted to practice law in New York with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in criminal defense and/or adult family court representation.
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to public defense, NYSDA’s mission to improve the quality and scope of representation to individuals who cannot afford counsel, and advancing equitable and racial justice.
• Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and other online software.
• Ability to travel around New York State, including locations that do not have public transportation.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience
• Familiarity with quality assurance standards, accreditation processes, and validation methodologies.
• Experience working with expert witnesses, consultants, and scientists.
• Experience with cases involving large volumes of discovery (paper and electronic).
• Experience working with defense team members and experts on forensic issues.
• Experience working in a public defense office, legal aid organization, or assigned counsel program.

NYSDA’s main office is in Albany, NY. Applicants must be able to work in Albany or hybrid/remotely from within New York State with the ability to travel to the Albany office regularly and as requested. The position involves occasional travel to trainings, meetings, and professional development events. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.

Salary: $90,000 - $130,000, depending on experience. NYSDA offers a generous benefit package, including paid vacation, personal, sick time, and parental leave; health, dental, and vision insurance coverage; FSA; and 403(b) with employer contribution after one year.

To apply, click here. Applicants must upload a resume and a cover letter with writing sample. Applications without the required materials will not be considered. Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NYSDA is an equal opportunity employer. NYSDA values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply.

Staff Attorney, Public Defense Backup Center
The New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) is seeking applications for Staff Attorneys to work in our Public Defense Backup Center. NYSDA’s Backup Center promotes excellence in legal representation of low-income people who are involved in criminal and family courts throughout the State of New York. This position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced lawyer who is passionate about elevating public defense and supporting defenders statewide.

The Backup Center identifies best practices and emerging challenges to high-quality legal assistance and provides public defenders and assigned counsel with support and resources to assist in and elevate their work on behalf of clients.

NYSDA, a not-for-profit, membership organization, has been responding to the need for support of New York's public defense community since 1967. NYSDA’s mission is to improve the quality and scope of publicly supported legal representation to people who cannot afford counsel. In addition to the Public Defense Backup Center, NYSDA provides services to public defense offices and assigned counsel attorneys around the state through its Veterans Defense Program, Public Defense Recruitment and Retention Program, and Public Defense Case Management System. NYSDA also offers high-quality training to public defense attorneys, investigators, social workers, and other members of the public defense community. The Backup Center is instrumental in assisting defenders around the state to advance quality representation in criminal and family court cases. Our Backup Center Staff Attorneys have a wide variety of experiences and expertise.

Staff Attorneys act as resource attorneys, providing support and guidance to defenders and other members of defense teams through case consultations, legal research, training, development of resource guides and other publications, expert witness referrals, and short- and long-term projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare regular updates on legal developments to the public defense community
• Provide case consultations to defense attorneys in criminal and family court cases
• Provide referrals to experts and other professionals to defense attorneys
• Develop resource materials and best practices guides for defenders and defense offices regarding substantive and procedural issues
• Stay up to date on best practices, trends, caselaw developments, legislative proposals in New York and other states
• Other responsibilities and projects assigned by the Executive Director or Deputy Director

Qualifications and Experience

• Admitted to practice law in New York
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in criminal defense and/or adult family court representation
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated commitment to public defense, NYSDA’s mission to improve the quality and scope of representation to individuals who cannot afford counsel, and advancing equitable and racial justice
• Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and other online software
• Ability to travel around New York State, including locations that do not have public transportation

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working in a public defense office, legal aid organization, or assigned counsel program
• Experience working with defense team members and experts on forensic issues
• Experience with cases involving large volumes of discovery (paper and electronic)

NYSDA’s main office is in Albany, NY. Applicants must be able to work in Albany or hybrid/remotely from within New York State with the ability to travel to the Albany office regularly and as requested. The position involves occasional travel to trainings, meetings, and professional development events.

Salary: $90,000 - $130,000, depending on experience. NYSDA offers a generous benefit package, including paid vacation, personal, and sick time; health, dental, and vision insurance; FSA; and 403(b).

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Hiring@nysda.org (subject line: Staff Attorney, Public Defense Backup Center). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. NYSDA is an equal opportunity employer. NYSDA values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply.

NYSDA Internship Opportunities

NYSDA is not accepting internship applications at this time. Please check back on this page for future opportunities.

Internships are available at a number of public defense offices around New York State, some of which are listed on our website here.

Law Internship Program in Albany, NY
When internships are open, we accept applications from law students who want to gain experience in legal research, criminal law, and family defense. Law students work on a variety of criminal and family 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.

Criminal Justice Internship
When internships are open, NYSDA considers applications from 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 another 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.  

Library Internships
When internships are open, NYSDA considers applications from 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 another participating library science 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 our Legal Research Librarian, 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.