Closing Date: 10th April, 2024
Description:
The Criminal Defense Practice of The Legal Aid Society has an opening for a Staff Attorney in its DNA Unit. The Staff Attorney will provide support to attorneys handling DNA matters, advance policy initiatives, and litigate systemic issues as needed. This position will also involve developing litigation strategies to assist attorneys and clients in litigating forensic feature comparison methods such as fingerprints and firearms/toolmark comparisons.Staff Attorneys in the DNA Unit are the Society's in-house experts in forensic science matters and provide support for Criminal Defense Practice attorneys and other defense attorneys. They maintain caseloads pertaining to matters where DNA evidence or other forensic feature comparison methods are involved and provide support, including expert assistance and second-seating cases handled by other Society attorneys.
The DNA Unit provides citywide support on DNA issues. Staff Attorneys are either assigned to a borough office or to headquarters at 199 Water Street and then deployed to any of the five boroughs as the need arises. When needed, Staff Attorneys assigned to a particular borough may also be called to provide assistance and client services in other boroughs. All members of this citywide unit work together to develop, implement, and coordinate Society policy and litigation strategy concerning DNA matters.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
- Writing motions, appellate briefs, and amicus briefs
- Represent clients in criminal proceedings involving DNA and other forensic feature comparisons
- Develop litigation strategies surrounding fingerprints, firearms/toolmark comparisons, and other forensic feature comparisons
- Provide support and assistance for other Society attorneys handling forensic feature comparison cases
- Provide in-house and external training on forensic feature comparison issues
- Provide back-up support for other defense attorneys in New York City
- Advocate for policy changes, as needed
Required Documents:
Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via the LAS (Legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal.
- Cover Letter
- Resume
Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed
Apr 10, 2024
Location:
Citywide
Requirements:
- Admission to New York State Bar
- Demonstrated aptitude for evaluating scientific evidence, such as on DNA.
- Substantial background in forensics, or the demonstrated aptitude and willingness to acquire such knowledge and to maintain expertise, particularly in such areas as forensic biology and statistics
- Excellent oral advocacy skills
- Excellent research and writing skills
- Excellent ability to train other staff
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
- Ability and willingness to work as part of a citywide team
