The appellate bureau of the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office (located in Rochester, New York, a medium sized city with a metropolitan population of over a million) is looking to add a staff attorney to its 12-member team. The appellate bureau represents individuals aggrieved by the most consequential of dispositions – criminal convictions and sentences, orders affecting parental rights, and sex offender risk level classifications. With guidance from experienced supervisors, staff attorneys represent individuals on appeal to New York’s intermediate and highest appellate courts and in other post-conviction state court proceedings. Staff attorneys are expected to deliver high-quality, client-centered representation by working hard to gain the trust of their clients and making creative and well-crafted arguments for relief. They are also called upon to assist the office’s trial attorneys with their legal arguments, helping them obtain favorable rulings and lay a strong foundation for arguments on appeal.
The starting salary is $84,000 to $117,000. Benefits include: Membership in the New York State Employee Retirement system;
comprehensive individual and family medical and dental coverage and flexible spending accounts; and generous paid time off for vacation, personal time, sickness, and holidays.
• Strong analytical, research and writing, and oral argument skills;
• A passion for criminal, family, and constitutional law;
• A commitment to client-centered representation, particularly of marginalized members of society;
• The discipline necessary to set and meet deadlines to ensure clients’ appeals are timely heard;
• An ability and desire to work both independently, taking full ownership of a caseload, and collaboratively by, for example, working with others to resolve thorny problems, mooting cases, and providing feedback on arguments;
• The communication skills to build working relationships with clients who are experiencing distress and are distrusting of the criminal justice system; and
• Empathy for individuals with backgrounds and experiences different from their own.
• Admitted or soon to be admitted to the New York State Bar
Please apply with a cover letter, resume, and writing sample, which may be emailed to Drew R. DuBrin, Special Assistant Public Defender, at [email protected]. Your cover letter should address (1) why you are interested in working for the Monroe County Public Defender’s appellate bureau and (2) what about your background, skills, and experiences will make you a strong appellate defender.
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