Supervising Attorney, Prisoners’ Rights Project (PRP)

The Legal Aid Society ‘s Criminal Defense Practice seeks an experienced, committed and talented lawyer to join a team of skilled advocates as a Supervising Attorney in the Prisoners’ Rights Project (PRP).

 

The Prisoners’ Rights Project works to protect the legal rights of people incarcerated in New York City jails and New York State prisons.  We do so through impact litigation seeking systemic reforms, most often as class actions in federal and state courts; legislative and oversight advocacy; policy change; and administrative advocacy directly with correctional, medical, and other agencies.  Areas of priority for the Prisoners’ Rights Project include health and safety, such as challenging excessive force against people in custody, protection from solitary confinement, sexual abuse, protection of LGBTQI people in custody, safe conditions of confinement, access to medical and mental health care, and treatment of prisoners with disabilities. A significant portion of our work is post-judgment enforcement of relief. Litigation often is co-counseled with law firms serving pro bono, and collaboration among the various Legal Aid practices is frequent. 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Legal Duties

• Maintain an active caseload of pending and new litigation to advance PRP’s goals
• Together with other supervising attorneys, oversee integration of individual client intake and advocacy into policy and litigation
• Substantively direct legislative and administratively policy initiatives, frequently in close collaboration with other units of Legal Aid and external stakeholders
• Engage directly in all aspects of litigation and collaborate with other attorneys in setting litigation strategy and priorities and managing cases
• Work collaboratively and collegially with pro bono counsel and colleagues in other parts of Legal Aid; community groups; legislators, and other stakeholders
• Conduct and participate in community education, training, media, and outreach to educate the public as well as other legal professionals and to promote the work of PRP

Team Development and Supervision

• Assist the Director of PRP in the daily operations and direct supervision of the legal work of the unit
• 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. 
• General managerial duties, administrative tasks, and data collection.  

Additional supervisory responsibilities

• Identify and implement unit management and accountability practices to improve performance.
• Resolve employee conflict, complaints, and address union concerns, with guidance from Human Resources.
• Hire and supervise interns and volunteers.

 

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development.
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Admission to the New York bar, or eligibility to waive into New York bar
• Minimum 8 years of litigation experience, with a strong preference for experience in civil rights, prisoners’ rights litigation, New York correctional agencies, or law reform litigation (applicants with more experience are encouraged to apply)
• Demonstrated strong commitment to racial equity and civil rights
• Demonstrated ability to engage in and communicate complex legal analysis