Plea Project Attorney at CAL

PLEA PROJECT ATTORNEY JOB POSTING

About Us

The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading holistic legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality appellate representation to low-income New Yorkers. We are committed to ensuring that every individual has access to fair and just legal representation in the appellate courts and in a full panoply of post- conviction litigation. Our team of dedicated attorneys, paralegals, and staff work tirelessly to advocate for our clients' rights and uphold the principles of justice.

Position Overview

CAL is seeking to hire a staff attorney to join the Plea Project who will handle a caseload of felony guilty pleas and appeals from denials of downward departures under the Sex Offender Registration Act (“SORA”). The plea project attorney may be a fully remote position; however, the attorney must be available for oral arguments and client visits in New York. The attorney will be a member of the bargaining unit.

CAL is assigned to represent New Yorkers convicted of crimes in Manhattan and the Bronx in their criminal appeals and other post-conviction proceedings. We pride ourselves on adopting dynamic approaches to serve our clients and challenge the status quo. Outside of the courtroom, we work tirelessly to center and protect our clients’ well-being through the work of our Anti-Racism Working Group, Legislative Advocacy Committee, and array of Client Support Service projects. Our clients are among society’s most disenfranchised—people who have been convicted and imprisoned—and we work hard to live up to their trust. Our mission is to fight injustice through exceptional advocacy and enduring compassion for each client. We envision a post-conviction process grounded in our clients’ humanity.

The Plea Project staff attorney will handle a significant caseload of direct appeals from felony guilty pleas and appeals from denials of downward departures in risk-level proceedings under the Sex Offender Registration Act (“SORA”). With all appeals, the attorney will be responsible for communications with the client, including addressing issues to be raised on appeal. With guilty-plea appeals, where the appeal presents the possibility of plea withdrawal, the attorney will be responsible for carefully evaluating the potential harms and risks associated with vacating the pleas and discussing those issues with their clients in letters, phone calls, and in-person visits. With guilty-plea appeals where no plea-withdrawal issue is presented, or where the client does not want to take the risks of seeking plea withdrawal, the attorney will be responsible for drafting briefs with risk-free issues (frequently excessive sentencing or suppression claims) or obtaining a stipulation of withdrawal from the client. For SORA appeals, advice and guidance in response to questions regarding ongoing SORA registration compliance will initially be the responsibility of the Director of the SORA Practice, but will shift to the plea project attorney as the attorney gains expertise in SORA practice. In all cases, the attorney will draft reply briefs, and orally argue in the Appellate Division where appropriate, and will seek leave to appeal from the New York Court of Appeals in appropriate cases. Because of the nature of guilty-plea and downward departure SORA appeals, the Plea Project staff attorney’s caseload will be larger than other staff attorneys.

QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must have:

• graduated from an accredited law school and be admitted to the New York State Bar;
• a minimum of three years of criminal defense experience;
• a demonstrated commitment to public criminal defense;
• excellent analytical, writing, research, and oral advocacy skills;
• a passion for creative, persuasive, and strategic writing, including the ability to craft compelling narratives advocating for sentence and risk-level reductions;
• strong organizational skills and a diligent work ethic;
• empathy and respect for people who have been convicted of serious offenses;
• strong interpersonal skills, especially in the face of crisis or disagreement;
• experience serving and/or advocating for disenfranchised communities;
• a willingness and ability to work within the dehumanizing environments of prisons, jails, and detention facilities.

Spanish fluency is preferred, but not required.

LOCATION

Although CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and attorneys are permitted to work remotely 8-10 days per month, the plea project attorney may be a fully remote position. The attorney must be available for oral arguments and client visits in New York. CAL is based in New York City.

SALARY

Starting salary will be at least $87,293 for a 2021 graduate and at least $112,528 for a 2014 graduate. CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a resume and cover letter as one document using this link: https://bit.ly/pleaproject2024. Applications should be submitted by December 27, 2024.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At CAL, we embrace and value our staff’s diversity, recognizing that our differences strengthen our community and advance our mission. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply. CAL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unlawful discrimination. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.