CLIENT ADVOCATE / PARALEGAL POSITION - PAROLE ADVOCACY

ABOUT US

The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality post-conviction 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, client advocates, and staff work tirelessly to advocate for our clients’ rights and uphold the principles of justice.

CAL has a cohort of committed Client Advocates (CAs), coordinated by CAL’s Holistic Advocacy Supervisor, who stand on the front lines of this holistic approach to advocacy. CAs play an essential role in delivering a wealth of important services to our clients. CAs work directly with clients and are typically the first point of contact. 

CAL is hiring one full-time CA to join its Parole Advocacy Project. The Parole Advocacy Project advocates for the parole release of state-incarcerated clients appearing before the New York State Parole Board for a discretionary release determination and helps prepare clients for their interviews by the Board. The Parole Advocacy Team’s comprehensive written submissions to the Board present the lived experiences and aspirations of our clients, providing insight and in-depth perspectives to the Board, and have the potential to impact how soon an individual returns to the community. The Parole Advocacy CAs are essential members of this team, providing administrative support for the project and interacting extensively with Parole Advocacy clients and their loved ones and bureaucratic agencies. 

More information about CAL and the Parole Advocacy Project can be found on CAL’s website: https://appellate-litigation.org/

POSITION OVERVIEW

Parole Advocacy CAs are responsible for providing full-time administrative support to the project by, among other things, gathering records from various administrative/governmental agencies and maintaining organized and updated databases. 

Parole Advocacy CAs are also responsible for carrying a client caseload, assisting with drafting parole packets, corresponding with clients via legal calls, in-person visits, and mail. This role also entails collaborating with attorneys, speaking with family members, and other community supporters, and engaging in written and oral advocacy in preparation for the parole hearing. The Parole Advocacy CAs are supervised by CAL’s Parole Advocacy Director. The ideal applicant will remain in the CA position for at least two years. 

This is a non-exempt position. CAs are members of the bargaining unit.  

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or 2-3 years of relevant experience;
• ability to manage an independent caseload;
• commitment to CAL’s mission statement and client-centered advocacy;
• deep understanding of the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion and commitment to cultivating a culture rooted in anti-racism;
• ability to independently exercise good judgment and keep sensitive information confidential;
• strong written and oral communication skills;
• an ability to work with and organize data;
• general computer and technological proficiency, including comfort with Microsoft Office and the ability to quickly become proficient with firm-specific programs and software;
• an ability to write creatively, persuasively, and strategically;
• strong organizational skills and a diligent work ethic, with attention to detail and deadline-consciousness;
• 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;
• exceptional problem-solving skills with the emotional intelligence to work effectively with people from all backgrounds;
• patience and the capacity to interact with bureaucratic agencies;
• ability to work closely with attorneys, and the cohort of client advocates, interns, and fellows, as well as independently; and
• a willingness and ability to work within the dehumanizing environments of prisons, jails, and detention facilities.

LOCATION 

The position is based at CAL’s New York City office. CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and CAs are permitted to work remotely 8-10 days per month.

SALARY

Salary will be based on experience and will range from $55,620 for new college graduates or those with one year of experience up to $62,315 for applicants with three years of experience. CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal, and sick days. 

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 on the basis of age, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, citizenship status, color, credit history, creed, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion, salary history, sexual and reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, status as a covered veteran or active military service member, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.