Careers

OAD is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 37 years, OAD has stood as a beacon of hope for people at the intersection of poverty and injustice. Our clients have been convicted of felony offenses in Manhattan and/or the Bronx and have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and post-release supervision. Despite the circumstances of our clients’ offenses, convictions, and sentences, we believe in the humanity and dignity of every human being which informs our client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. We are a beloved community of colleagues who are dedicated to public defense, access to justice, and racial equity.

Senior Staff Attorney Positions

The office of the Appellate Defender is currently hiring for the following attorney positions:

Senior Staff Attorney – Reinvestigation Project

Position Summary:

A Reinvestigation Senior Staff Attorney at OAD is a permanent staff member who reports to Supervising Attorneys and is expected to work with minimal supervision. As a Reinvestigation Senior Staff Attorney, you will serve in a hybrid role which features work in both OAD’s appellate and post-conviction practice, and its Reinvestigation Project. The successful candidate is well-versed in wrongful conviction issues, has a proven track record in case investigation, has significant experience in criminal defense trial, appellate, and/or post-conviction litigation, and possesses strong written and oral advocacy skills. As a Reinvestigation Senior Staff Attorney, you have a demonstrated commitment to representing people who are indigent and have been convicted of crimes, and will be energized by the opportunity to leverage your knowledge and experience for OAD’s continued success and sustainability.

Responsibilities:

Carry a caseload consisting of direct appeals, post-conviction motions and hearings pursuant to NY CPL 440, wrongful conviction reinvestigation cases, and other post-conviction relief such as hearings to determine classification level pursuant to SORA; federal habeas corpus challenges to state court convictions; and parole proceedings and re-entry preparation.

• Collaborate with New York City criminal defense practitioners including conviction integrity units in prosecutorial offices.
• Work extensively in case investigation and exhibit or gain expertise with wrongful conviction issues such as eyewitness identification and false confessions.
• Develop the attorney-client relationship by visiting incarcerated clients and communicating with them through a trauma-informed lens.
• Set and meet quarterly case goals as well as adhering to organizational and administrative protocols and policies.
• Advise clients on all potential appellate options, including withdrawal of guilty pleas, where appropriate, as well as negotiating pleas or other remedies following reversal of convictions.
• Develop leadership and supervision skills by working with legal interns on all aspects of client representation by conferencing issues, developing strategy, reviewing, and revising briefs.
• Participate with all legal staff to prepare and moot for oral arguments

Qualifications:

• You are a member, in good standing, of a bar in any jurisdiction and possess or can obtain immediate NY licensure. You graduated from law school in 2016-2020, have performed case investigations, and possess extensive experience in criminal defense trial, appellate, and/or post-conviction litigation; excellent research, writing and oral argument skills; and a demonstrated commitment to public defense work.
• You possess a people-centric and inclusive approach to managing relationships in the workplace. You do not fear change and are solution-oriented when differences arise and consider innovative and creative approaches to advocacy.
• You understand what it means to work with and for individuals whose backgrounds and lived experiences are different from your own with sensitivity and humility. You are willing to learn more about the impacted and marginalized identities of people served by the organization and bring your awareness to all the work you do.
• You can communicate clearly and concisely. You provide useful feedback to the people working with you. You adopt an organizational voice to ensure written or oral communications are consistent with the inclusive culture we strive to maintain and build upon.
• You work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment to best address client needs.
• You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system.
• You have strong organizational and case management skills and have demonstrated success navigating gray areas in the law and working with competing priorities. You maintain composure and positivity in stressful situations. You are willing to take on new projects as the needs of the office or practice change.

Benefits:

• Generous vacation time and 14 paid holidays, including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.
• 401(k) with a defined contribution of 3.5% from OAD regardless of participation.
• Personal, Bereavement and sick days given on the first day of employment.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision and life benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.

To Apply:

To join our community, please apply with a cover letter, resume and writing sample here. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must: (1) explain your alignment with OAD’s mission, values and/or advocacy approach; and (2) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. OAD is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. OAD will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. We encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for this role.

OAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

You are eligible to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

************************** NO AGENCIES PLEASE ***************************

Supervising Attorney Positions

The office of the Appellate Defender is currently hiring for the following attorney positions:

Supervising Attorney – Appeals and DVSJA Project

Overview of the role

A Supervising Attorney at OAD is a member of the management team and reports to the Deputy Attorney-in-Charge. You will provide guidance in appellate representation and post-conviction relief to staff attorneys using appropriate leadership models, including our “double-team” model, working from case inception to completion, and engaging in formal training and mentorship. The successful candidate has a proven track record of supporting team members in advocating for clients who have been marginalized and is energized by the opportunity to leverage that knowledge and experience for OAD’s continued success and sustainability. This Supervising Attorney will also administer OAD’s practice involving clients seeking relief under the New York’s Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act (“DVSJA”), supervise DVSJA cases, and collaborate with the client services team to prepare and supervise preparation of parole applications.

Qualifications:

• You are a member, in good standing, of a bar in any jurisdiction and possess or can obtain NY licensure within a reasonable time.
• You have extensive experience in all aspects of criminal law and post-conviction representation.
• Excellent research, writing and oral argument skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to public defense; and the ability to train others in these areas. You have supervised other individuals and/or managed a project with multiple team members.
• You have the demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage others of varying experience levels. 
• You possess a people-centric, collaborative, and inclusive approach to managing relationships in the workplace. 
• You do not fear change and are solution-oriented when differences arise.
• You challenge others to seek innovative and creative approaches to advocacy; and encourage ongoing development by providing effective performance feedback and evaluation.
• You understand what it means to work with and for individuals whose backgrounds and lived experiences are different from your own with sensitivity and humility.
• You are willing to learn more about the impacted and marginalized identities of people served by the organization and bring your awareness to all the work you do.
• You can communicate clearly and concisely. You provide useful feedback to the people working with you.
• You adopt an organizational voice to ensure written or oral communications are consistent with the inclusive culture we strive to maintain and build upon.
• You work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment to best address client needs.
• You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system.
• You have strong organizational and case management skills and have demonstrated success navigating gray areas in the law and working with competing priorities.
• You maintain composure and positivity in stressful situations.  You are willing to take on new projects as the needs of the office or practice change.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise attorneys, including pro-bono volunteer attorneys, and law students on all aspects of client representation by conferencing issues and developing strategy; reviewing and revising briefs; preparing and mooting attorneys for oral argument; developing the attorney-client relationship by visiting incarcerated clients and communicating with them through a trauma- informed lens.
• Administer OAD’s practice involving clients seeking relief under the New York’s Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act (“DVSJA”) and supervise DVSJA cases.
• Collaborate with the Director of Client Services by providing a legal perspective in the preparation of parole applications and supervise some such applications.
• Consciously create and enhance a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work culture that is supportive, collaborative, and affirming to clients and colleagues by training and mentoring attorneys and law students; providing CLE and training programs for outside defender organizations; and collaborating with leadership to devise and implement big picture organizational goals.
• Carry a balanced caseload consisting of direct appeals, post-conviction motions and hearings pursuant to NY CPL 440 and other post-conviction relief such as DVSJA litigation; and parole proceedings and re-entry preparation.

Benefits

• Generous vacation time and 14 paid holidays, including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.
• 401(k) with a defined contribution of 3.5% from OAD regardless of participation.
• Personal, Bereavement, and sick days given on the first day of employment.
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision and life benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.

Your Application

To join our community, please apply with a cover letter, resume and writing sample here.  Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must: (1) explain your alignment with OAD’s mission, values and/or advocacy approach; and (2) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. OAD is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. OAD will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. We encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for this role.

OAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.

You are eligible to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Admitted Attorneys

The Office of the Appellate Defender is not hiring for attorney.

Current Law Students

The Office of the Appellate Defender is not currently accepting applications for internships or externships.  

Administrative Positions

The Office of the Appellate Defender is currently not accepting applications for administrative positions.