Careers
OAD is the oldest institutional provider in New York City whose sole focus is appellate representation. For 35 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.
Role: Senior Staff Attorney
Location: New York
Hours: Full-time, Hybrid
Salary: $93,576 - $105,000
Overview of the role
As a Senior Staff Attorney at OAD you will report to a supervisory team but will collaborate with various Supervising Attorneys on case assignments. A Senior Staff Attorney is expected to work independently with minimal supervision. As a senior staff attorney, you will represent people who cannot afford legal representation and who have been convicted of felonies in Manhattan and the Bronx on direct appeal, as well as in post-conviction motions and/or hearings, hearings to determine classification level pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA), or in related litigation. You will have a proven track record of in-depth knowledge and experience with criminal cases, which will include cases with complex issues and/or large records. As senior staff attorney you will have demonstrated commitment to representing people who are indigent and convicted of crimes and be energized by the opportunity to leverage your knowledge and experience for OAD’s continued success and sustainability.
Who You Are
- Experienced. You are a member, in good standing, of a bar in any jurisdiction and possess or can obtain NY licensure within six months of hiring. You have extensive experience, a minimum of 6 years of relevant litigation experience and a minimum of 4 years in appellate practice; excellent research, writing and oral argument skills; and a demonstrated commitment to public defense.
- Leader. 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.
- Culturally Aware and Sensitive. 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.
- Clear Communicator. 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.
- Collaborative. You work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment to best address client needs.
- Passionate. You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system.
- Agile. 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.
What You Will Do
- Carry a caseload consisting of direct appeals, post-conviction motions and hearings pursuant to NY CPL 440, 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.
- 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 argument.
Benefits
- Generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.
- Comprehensive medical benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.
- Professional development includes free access to the Practicing Law Institute.
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.
Please note that OAD requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID and provide a vaccination record at the start of employment.
Role: Client Services Director
Location: New York
Hours: Full-time, Hybrid, in-person at least 3 days per week
Salary: $84,256.99 - $101,814.53
Overview of the role
The Client Services Director (CSD) is a member of the management team and reports to the Managing Attorney. The CSD will manage a team of client service coordinators and collaborate with attorneys to ensure that OAD’s staff are effectively and compassionately responding to the challenges arising from incarceration, solitary confinement, and the difficulties that the post-incarceration community face during re-integration. Thus, the CSD position is interdisciplinary, rooted in the intersecting fields of criminal law, social work, counseling, and administration. As a result, the CSD will develop policies and procedures that support clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma or are in crisis; collect and analyze data to identify ways to improve programs and processes; gauge the effectiveness of services to clients; and report statistical data for grant and contract reporting with respect to services provided by this team.
Who You Are
- Experienced. You have a Master’s degree in Social Work and are SIFI certified or have the ability to obtain certification in a timely manner. You also have demonstrated experience in dealing with the mental health challenges that arise out of incarceration; excellent writing and public speaking skills; and the ability to train staff to provide person-centered, trauma informed, and appropriate services to our clients in crisis. Regardless of title you have supervised other individuals, prepared a work or program plan, created a project or program from inception to implementation, managed a project with multiple team members, and evaluated established metrics and outcomes.
- Leader. You have the demonstrated ability to lead and manage others of varying experience levels. You possess a people-centric and culture-forward approach to managing relationships in the workplace. You do not fear change and are solution-oriented when differences arise. You encourage the ongoing development of your team by providing effective feedback and evaluation.
- Reliable. You have an organized mind and a commitment to meeting goals in a timely and consistent manner. You can work independently and manage multiple tasks. You follow up on tasks and assignments without prompting.
- Culturally Aware and Sensitive. You understand what it means to work with and for individuals whose backgrounds and lived experiences may be 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.
- Collaborative. You can work independently but also work effectively across roles to create a holistic environment that best addresses client needs.
- Clear Communicator. You can communicate clearly and concisely in writing and orally. You appreciate the need to ask questions when appropriate and to inform others when you need assistance. You may be fluent in a language other than English, which helps facilitate your communication with some OAD clients.
- Passionate. You care deeply about people served by OAD and are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal legal system causing mass incarceration and lengthy, draconian sentencing that disproportionally impact Black and Brown people
- Agile. You are willing to: take on new projects as the needs of the office or practice change, learn new skills and lead or significantly contribute to projects that advance organizational goals.
What You Will Do
- Lead an early transition re-entry program and assist clients who are nearing the end of a term of incarceration to address housing, government benefits, employment, mental health services and education needs.
- Develop relationships with agencies to create a referral network of partnerships who are, or will be, frequent service providers to OAD clients.
- Work closely with OAD staff to assist with vulnerable clients, such as those who have mental illness, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse issues, sex offender registration requirements, and/or are youthful.
- Supervise, manage, train, and collaborate with a team of dedicated client services coordinators, Americorps VISTA fellows, and social work interns.
- Engage with those in similar roles at other institutional public defender providers in New York City and nationwide, to stay abreast of the issues, resources and policies affecting people involved in the criminal justice system and ensure that OAD clients have access to all necessary services.
- Contribute to written submissions, including sentencing mitigation reports and parole advocacy petitions.
- Travel to New York State prisons to meet with clients and corrections agencies’ regional and central staff.
Benefits
- Generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days including Summer Fridays where the office closes early.
- Comprehensive medical benefits, flexible spending, and health reimbursement account.
Your Application
To join our community, please apply with a cover letter, resume and writing sample, which may include writings, such as a work plan, program plan, or mitigation report here. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must address: (1) Explain your alignment with OAD’s mission, values and/or advocacy approach; and (2) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate.
Please note that OAD requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID and provide a vaccination record at the start of employment.