Director of Special Litigation

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice Special Litigation Unit is seeking a highly experienced civil litigator and organizational leader to manage a team of legal professionals focused on developing creative and innovative legal advocacy and systemic law reform strategies across a range of criminal justice matters.

 

The Special Litigation Unit of The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice (SLU) engages in civil litigation and policy advocacy to address systemic injustices affecting the Legal Aid Society’s criminal defense clients and their families. Examples of past work include federal litigation challenging the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices, state litigation compelling arraignments within 24 hours, and, more recently, federal litigation challenging the state’s failure to provide timely and adequate competency restoration services to people found unfit to stand trial, and federal litigation challenging DHS’ practice of conducting suspicionless stops of New Yorkers based solely on their perceived race and ethnicity and conducting warrantless immigration arrests without probable cause. SLU’s impact litigation docket can be found here. SLU sits within the Law Reform Team of the Criminal Defense Practice, alongside Legal Aid’s Prisoner Rights Project, Community Justice Unit, Policy Team and other specialized projects.

 

The Director of Special Litigation will work closely with and report to the Attorney-in-Charge of Criminal Law Reform. The Director of Special Litigation will direct and implement SLU’s litigation strategy across a range of issues, including but not limited to combatting racial discrimination in the criminal legal system, ending mass incarceration, and challenging abusive policing practices. The Director will supervise, lead and inspire the work of other attorneys, paralegals and other staff working in SLU; initiate new litigation strategies and act as lead counsel in complex litigation; collaborate with public defenders and specialized attorneys across Legal Aid to identify and address systemic legal issues affecting our clients; support policy advocacy through expert analysis and coalition building; and act as a representative of the Legal Aid Society in coalitions, with external stakeholders, and in the media.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Supervision and Litigation Development

• Provide proactive, compassionate line management to staff attorneys, paralegals and other staff within the Special Litigation Unit
• Working closely with the Attorney-in-Charge, direct and implement the strategy of the Special Litigation Unit, oversee systems to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Unit, and provide leadership within the team
• Identify opportunities for new litigation strategies
• Initiate and lead complex civil litigation in state and federal court

 

Implement SLU’s Advocacy and Policy Priorities

• Direct research and advocacy to support policy reform at the city and state levels, working closely with the Director of Policy
• Represent the Legal Aid Society in coalitions and develop and maintain relationships with coalition and other external partners

 

Support SLU’s Internal Relationships and Other Duties as Assigned

• Manage the Special Litigation Unit’s relationships across the various practice areas within the Legal Aid Society
• Other duties as assigned

Team Development and Supervision

• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests following the guidance of LAS policy and procedures 
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by management and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed
• Identify, delegate, and document work responsibilities, roles, and procedures to meet the mission of the department
• Identify and implement department/unit management and accountability practices to improve performance
• Resolve employee conflict, complaints, and address union concerns, with guidance from Human Resources
• Lead organizational and culture change for the unit

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Required qualifications:

• Admission to New York State bar
• Minimum of 7 years legal experience, including at least 5 years of experience with complex strategic litigation in state and federal courts implicating constitutional, civil rights, or civil liberties issues

Preferred qualifications:  

• Demonstrable experience in New York courts strongly preferred
• Experience in policy development and legislative advocacy is preferred but not required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Experience working in or with a nonprofit organization with a focus on improving the lives of low-income people and a demonstrable dedication to racial equity
• Experience working to address issues impacting the criminal legal system
• Expertise in the rules of civil procedure and the dynamics of complex civil litigation
• Excellent legal research and analysis skills
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

 

• Experience with line management of staff and/or organizational leadership
• Demonstrated commitment to mentorship and supporting the professional development of others
• Excellent collaboration skills, including and ability to foster constructive, respectful working relationships with colleagues and coalition partners and an understanding of the importance of attention to principles of diversity and inclusion in collaborative relationships

 

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers 
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid’s mission and values

 

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:  (select those that apply) 

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video.

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

 

Salary Range: $165,000 - $171,000

 

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

 

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. 

 

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

 

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 via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume 

 

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org.

 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

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.

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

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 (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.