Supervisor - Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) & Case Closed Project

Supervisor - Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) & Case Closed Project
May 30, 2024

The Legal Aid Society, the largest provider of social justice legal services in the nation, has an immediate opening for a supervisor to oversee the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act Unit and the Case Closed Project.

The recently enacted Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act ("DVSJA") enables survivors of domestic violence to be sentenced under substantially lower sentencing schemes or, if post conviction, apply for a reduction in their prison sentences. The supervisor would oversee Legal Aid's post-conviction DVSJA resentencing practice, handled by two full-time staff attorneys, one part-time staff attorney, and a paralegal case handler. The supervisor would also develop and provide DVSJA trainings and consult on initial DVSJA sentencings at the trial level.

Launched in 2017, the Case Closed Project is the largest project in New York State providing free legal services to people eligible for application-based sealing of previous convictions. The project, which consists of two attorneys and a paralegal case handler, identifies people who are eligible to have their convictions sealed and represents them during the process. It also advocates for broader legal reform so that New Yorkers do not continue to endure the stigma of a criminal conviction many years later. The supervisor would oversee the work of the project, including direct representation, pro bono relationships, advocacy, and community awareness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the DVSJA Unit and Case Closing Project to ensure high-quality advocacy, including setting priorities, developing protocols, and making strategic determinations
• Supervise DVSJA staff attorneys, including conducting trainings regarding DVSJA and related advocacy skills, conferencing individual cases for strategic planning, managing caseload and setting priorities, providing guidance on preparation for meetings with DA's offices and hearings, reviewing and supervising written submissions, appearing in court as necessary, and providing feedback and annual evaluations
• Supervise DVSJA Paralegal Case Handler, including conducting trainings regarding DVSJA and related skills, overseeing individual assignments from attorneys, managing workload and setting priorities, and providing feedback and annual evaluations
• Hire and supervise DVSJA interns
• Advise and consult on appeals from CPL 440.47 resentencing determinations
• Strategize about appropriate alternative forms of relief
• Coordinate with Criminal Appeals Bureau ("CAB") counsel for any direct appeals from underlying conviction for CPL 440.47 clients and consult with CAB counsel on DVSJA-informed appeals
• Update and conduct DVSJA trainings for other Legal Aid practices as well as for organizations outside Legal Aid
• Participate in the statewide DVSJA Task Force
• Consult on trial level DVSJA sentencing cases and help coordinate unified advocacy at both the trial and post-conviction level
• Supervise Case Closed Staff Attorney and Paralegal Case Handler, including conducting trainings regarding sealing, conferencing cases, managing caseload and setting priorities, and providing feedback and annual evaluations
• Cultivate pro bono partnerships and supervise pro bono attorneys
• Liaise with stakeholders in the criminal legal system to discuss systemic issues that arise with regard to CPL 440.47 litigation and sealing; participate in legislative advocacy to effect changes to DVSJA and sealing that will ensure broader eligibility and, with respect to DVSJA, more seamless resentencing

Manhattan - Legal Aid Society Headquarters

• Admission to the New York State Bar or ability to waive into New York State from another jurisdiction
• Five years or more of demonstrated commitment to public defense, social and racial justice, and equity required
• Significant criminal defense experience at the trial and post-conviction levels and demonstrated excellence in courtroom advocacy and legal writing
• Experience or familiarity with DVSJA and sealing preferred
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant New York State and federal law including evidence laws, criminal and constitutional laws, statutory interpretation, and ethical principles contained in the Rules of Professional Conduct
• Excellent interpersonal coaching and development skills
• Excellent organizational, case management, and strategic planning skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team of attorneys and paralegals with varying experience levels
• Ability to challenge others to seek innovative and creative approaches to advocacy and to encourage ongoing development by providing effective performance feedback and evaluation

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

The posting reflects the range of potential salaries for the role. The specific salary offers will be dependent on candidate qualifications, including collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range/ Salary: $88,057 to $144,564

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society believes in attracting and retaining exceptional talent committed to serving our clients. We offer a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Salaries for our unionized jobs are governed by our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please visit our Careers page for additional information. Salary and benefits information will be available to applicants, when and if an offer is made.

HIGHER EDUCATION AND LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs.

Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice.To learn more, click the links below.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process. For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email .

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.

• Cover letter
• Resume