Staff Attorney, Adolescent Intervention and Diversion (AID) - (Brooklyn)

The Legal Aid Society has an opening for an Adolescent Intervention and Diversion (AID) attorney in the Brooklyn Criminal Trials office. AID is an interdisciplinary team model comprised of Staff Attorneys, Mitigation Specialists and Investigators dedicated to representing teenage clients prosecuted in the adult criminal courts. In addition to criminal defense representation, including the specialized practice under the Raise the Age law, the unit provides holistic advocacy in the areas of education, foster care, mental health and substance use. We also engage in policy work to ensure that our clients’ needs are served in the school, mental health, juvenile detention and correctional systems. AID works closely with the staff of our Juvenile Rights Practice, which represents young people in the family court and child welfare system.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Represent clients aged 14-17 years of age in Supreme Court
• Handle adolescent offender arraignments and engage in litigation focused on removing felony cases to family court and litigating the cases that remain in the Youth Part and elsewhere in Criminal and Supreme Court
• Engage in collateral systems work for clients including school advocacy, interaction with foster care, youth shelters, mental health, community-based agencies, as well as visiting clients in detention, jail and prison facilities
• Collaborate with Juvenile Rights Practice lawyers and social workers as well as CDP practitioners including specialty projects
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Required qualifications:

• New York State Bar admission
• Full Felony certification required
• Experience in mitigation and sentencing advocacy
• Interest in working with young people, families and collateral organizations and systems
• Interest in working in an interdisciplinary team model
• Interest in area specific training

 

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. 

 

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: $84,000- $152,500

  

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 t