Careers

OAD is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 40 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.

OAD's Core Values

Core values guide how we carry out this mission. They serve as a compass for consistent, mission-aligned behavior by informing our decisions, shaping our culture, and defining how we engage with our clients, one another, and external stakeholders.



Grounded in a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging these values reflect our responsibility to confront systemic inequities, honor lived experience, and ensure fairness, dignity, and access to justice for the communities we serve and the people who work within OAD.