The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) – a 50+ attorney nonprofit public defense law firm that represents indigent criminal defendants in all aspects of post-conviction proceedings – seeks experienced attorneys to join our Immigrant Justice Practice (IJP).

ABOUT CAL’S Immigrant Justice Practice (IJP) AND THIS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

IJP, one of the first and largest projects of its kind in the country, zealously pursues the full range of post-conviction remedies for our noncitizen clients to advance their rights, protect them from the threat of immigration detention and deportation, and keep them united with their families and communities here in the United States. Members of our IJP team seek post-conviction relief in trial courts in the Bronx and Manhattan through both negotiated and adversarial motions and hearings to vacate convictions, as well as represent clients in occasional appellate cases. We pride ourselves on a commitment to dynamic and high-quality written and oral advocacy, a client-centered approach to representation, and a collaborative team environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current admission in good standing to the New York bar
• At least two (2) years of relevant legal experience, preferably at the intersection of criminal and immigration law
• Excellent analytical, legal and mitigation writing, research, oral advocacy, and negotiation skills
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, manage a dynamic caseload, and be a team player
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and diligent work ethic
• Empathy and respect for people who have been convicted of crimes and a commitment to advocating on their behalf
• Experience serving and/or advocating for disenfranchised communities
• Willingness and ability to work within the dehumanizing environments of prisons, jails, and detention facilities
• Fluency in Spanish or another language other than English is strongly preferred

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At CAL, we embrace and value our staff’s diversity, recognizing that our differences strengthen our community and advance our mission. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, orientation experiences, and communities to apply. CAL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, citizenship status, color, credit history, creed, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion, salary history, sexual and reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, status as a covered veteran or active military service member, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

SALARY

Salary will be commensurate with experience and, for 2012 to 2020 graduates, according to an established step system. Starting salary is at least $78,000 (2020 graduates) to $100,500 (2012 graduates). Excellent benefits, including 27 paid vacation days per year, an employer SEP-IRA pension contribution, and a free healthcare option with additional employer HSA contributions, are provided.

These are full-time salaried positions. Full Covid vaccination is required. Current office policy requires in-office work three days a week.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit by email (as one PDF document) a resume and cover letter to:

myang@cfal.org

Marianne Yang

Supervising Attorney and Director, Immigrant Justice Practice

Center for Appellate Litigation

120 Wall Street, 28^th Floor

New York, NY 10005

The email should be titled “Lateral IJP Attorney Application.”

DEADLINE

Applications will be accepted immediately and on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply before December 16, 2022.