Description:
The Criminal Defense Practice seeks to fill the position of Mental Health Attorney for the Kings County Trial Office. The Mental Health Attorney is responsible for providing legal expertise and advocacy to clients with mental health issues. The attorney hired for this role will provide holistic services for clients through various stages of proceedings including representation on competency issues, bail applications, retention of experts, client assessments, and other relevant mental health trial and hearing litigation.Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
- Represent clients being arraigned while admitted to New York City hospitals
- Assist other attorneys in assessment of fitness during the pendency of client cases
- Advise and co-represent all clients undergoing 730 exams and 390 exams
- Advocate for the rights of clients as outlined in Jackson v. Indiana and conduct all related proceedings
- Provide periodic training to all staff concerning mental health issues and policies
- Monitor observation orders and the timely transference of clients found unfit
- Travel to hospitals and other facilities to meet with clients found unfit
- Communicate with doctors on a consistent basis to review client status
- Advocate in court for programming, release, and appropriate dispositions for mental health clients
- Assist in arraignments to screen clients with potential mental health issues
- Assist and advise in the retention of psychiatric experts
- Advocate with external agencies on behalf of clients
- Advise on possible defenses related to mental health
- Conduct 330.30 hearings
Requirements:
- New York State Bar admission
- Felony Trial certification and a minimum of five years experience in criminal defense or the equivalent in terms of expertise
- Working knowledge of mental health law
- Demonstrated interest in working with a challenging client population
- Interest in working in an interdisciplinary team model
- Excellent writing and organizational skills
