ABOUT US
The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality appellate representation to indigent defendants in New York. 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 lateral staff attorney, admitted to practice law in New York, with at least two years of relevant experience as a public defender, in public interest law, and/or with appellate practice. The lateral staff attorney is a bargaining-unit position.

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 the trust our clients place in us. 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.

CAL attorneys have the distinct honor of standing with, serving, and fighting for our clients. CAL attorneys gain extensive exposure not only to appellate practice but to all aspects of post-conviction proceedings. Concretely, this entails building relationships of trust, support, and dependability with clients; writing briefs and arguing in the Appellate Division and Appellate Term; writing motions to vacate our clients’ convictions; and appearing in trial court for post-conviction proceedings. CAL’s varied practice, ongoing opportunities for legal training, supervision, and supportive environment provide an ideal experience for a lateral attorney.

QUALIFICATIONS

All applicants must have:

• graduated from an accredited law school;

• be admitted to practice law in New York State;

• at least two years of relevant experience as a public defender, in public interest law, and/or with appellate practice;

• a demonstrated commitment to public criminal defense;

• excellent analytical, writing, research, and oral advocacy skills;

• a passion for creative, persuasive, and strategic writing;

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

SALARY
Salary will be based on experience and will range from $82,250 for someone with three years of post-graduate experience to $104,000 for someone with 10 years of post-graduate experience. CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal, and sick days.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply, click on the Google link below and fill out the form, which asks for some basic information, and submit your resume and cover letter in a single pdf. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Apply here or at https://bit.ly/3YD1guc

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.