The Criminal Defense Practice is seeking an Attorney-in-Charge (AIC) with a deep commitment to public defense, litigation, training, and professional development to join a dedicated team of managers and staff of attorneys, social workers, supervisors, and support personnel for our trial office. Applicants should demonstrate commitment to providing zealous and holistic representation to people accused of crimes in Richmond County.  The role requires someone who has both trial and management experience and has led interdisciplinary teams. The AIC will work closely with the Chief Attorney of the Criminal Defense Practice, as well as, other practice leaders. The AIC will be involved in all aspects of day-to-day operations and work closely with other legal, social work, paralegal, and office managers to train, supervise, and mentor staff. The AIC will participate in practice-wide and society-wide management discussions and decision-making and will be responsible for maintaining relationships with other stakeholders in the Court and communities.

The Legal Aid Society, the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit law firm serving New York City, is dedicated to a simple yet powerful mission: ensuring that no individual is denied the right to equal justice. For 148 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long – working on the front lines and behind the scenes to offer the people we serve the exceptional legal services they deserve. Through our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices, we offer an unmatched depth and breadth of legal expertise to vulnerable New Yorkers in over 300,000 legal matters annually to assist vulnerable New Yorkers. We are dedicated to making a positive impact every day, in every borough.

The Criminal Defense Practice is the primary – and only city-wide – public defender in New York City, providing holistic representation to over 150,000 people ensnared in the criminal legal system every year through trial level, appellate and post-conviction litigation, parole revocation defense, and policy and systemic litigation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Trial Office Leadership

• Responsible for the daily operations of the Staten Island Criminal Defense Trial Office
• Lead a dynamic interdisciplinary team of attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals and litigation assistants and administrative staff
• Monitor and maintain a high standard of legal representation and client services
• Represent the office and practice in the community, at meetings with District Attorney, the Office of Court Administration and with Elected Officials
• Promote the office’s commitment to racial equity, social justice and strengthen partnerships with impacted communities to that fosters trust in the work of public defenders and elevate the need for reform
• Respond to client, community and staff concerns and lead members of the Department and/or coordinate with stakeholders across LAS to identify areas for improvement and execute on identified solutions
• Evaluate office needs and develop and implement strategies to address and maintain highest level of service, including identifying necessary resources to address
• Analyze legal issues, develop legal strategy and supervise its implementation
• Foster and encourage teamwork and communication within the Staten Island Trial Office and across the Legal Aid Society
• Evaluate conflicting demands and prioritize workload

Team Development and Supervision

• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures
• Manage and coordinate staffing changes with the CDP administrative team, i.e. processing separations, requesting new job postings, hires, coordination of leaves and accommodations
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Develop skills and knowledge of staff members; mentor and evaluate supervisory staff and other office leaders
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory training is completed
• Identify, delegate, and document work responsibilities, roles, and procedures to meet the mission of the department
• Identify and implement department/unit management and accountability practices to improve performance
• Resolve employee conflict, complaints, and address union concerns, with guidance from Human Resources
• Lead organizational and culture change for the unit

Professional Development and other duties as assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Admission to practice law in the State of New York
• Minimum of 15 years of criminal defense legal practice with substantial litigation experience required
• Minimum of 10 years of supervisory and management experience required
• Demonstrated commitment to exploring alternative structures for legal practice
• Demonstrated ability to training, coaching and mentoring the professional development of staffs and to build holistic teams
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
• Excellent research, writing, and computer skills
• Demonstrated skills recruitment, interviewing and hiring
• Ability to work in and value a collaborative team model

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working with NY Office of Court Administration and the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $195,755

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

Click here to read more about the benefits of working at The Legal Aid Society 

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 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of 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, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

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. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jo**************@le*******.org.

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.