Staff Attorney

Description:

Career Opportunity:
A Youth Services and Justice System seeks a Staff Attorney to join its legal team in the fight for family, criminal and juvenile justice. YDC operates in New York through a model of innovative advocacy, using litigation, policy advocacy, and community engagement as mutually supportive tactics to advance the justice rights for every child in New York.
The YDC in New York legal team has been active during New York State's implementation of “raise the age” by raising the concerns of our prospective clients when plans were designed to comply with the requirements of the new law.
The YDC in New York seeks to advance rights on a range of intersecting issues, including family preservation, racial justice, criminal justice reform, and juvenile rights. The YDC has a support staff, and a team of lawyers dedicated to serving New York's youth. (Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it is likely the Staff Attorney will begin during a period of primarily in-person as well as some remote work.)
Position Overview:
The YDC in New York seeks a NYS admitted, dynamic, creative, and thoughtful attorney who will focus on family, criminal and juvenile justice issues using litigation and other advocacy strategies. Primary responsibilities will include:

• Assisting in investigating, developing and litigating high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level in New York State
• Serving as policy analyst and advocate on state and local issues in support of legislation and other campaigns, including public speaking; media interviews; “know your rights” presentations; and writing op-eds, newsletter articles, and
• Providing technical support and strategic leadership to community groups, advocates and organizers in the community
• Conducting direct outreach and advocacy to public
• Supervising, along with the senior counsel, paralegal staff.
• Managing interns.

The Staff Attorney reports directly to one of the managing directors of YDC, but will also collaborate with other attorneys or staff on particular projects. In some circumstances, the Staff Attorney will work on a team of lawyers including both YDC staff and cooperating lawyers from the private bar.
Qualifications and other Required Skills and Attributes:
Applicants must have a law degree from an accredited law school and be admitted to practice law in New York or be licensed and in good standing in another state and willing and able to obtain a New York law license expeditiously. The successful applicant should also have a demonstrated commitment, through previous professional, volunteer or lived experience, to criminal and/or juvenile justice. The position requires excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, as well as strong analytical, interpersonal, and time-management skills. The individual must be an outstanding communicator who is able to effectively convey the mission and activities of the YDC to a variety of diverse constituencies and to the broader public. We are looking for a flexible team player who is also comfortable working independently and taking initiative. Applicants must have patience, emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and an anti-racist perspective. Applicants must be able to occasionally work evenings, weekends or variable hours as cases and other work may require. On occasion, travel is required throughout the state, and may be requested for nationwide conferences or trainings.
Preferred Skills and Experiences:
Strong candidates will have demonstrated experience using litigation, advocacy, and community engagement strategies as part of a creative response to juvenile rights and criminal justice violations in affected communities.

• Experience in New York state or federal courts is a plus.
• Pertinent litigation experience could include drafting pleadings, preparing and responding to discovery, conducting and defending depositions, writing trial and appellate briefs, examining witnesses and arguing motions or appeals.
• Relevant advocacy experience could include writing letters to or testifying before government agencies or legislative bodies seeking policy changes.
• Community engagement may include work with other organizations on shared goals or objectives, grassroots organizing, preparation of know your rights materials or public education presentations.
• Fluency in languages other than English spoken in the community is preferred.

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