The Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS), the Private Counsel Division of the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO), is hiring a criminal appellate attorney, with experience in private billing and/or managing a private law practice, to review and audit vouchers of MAACS roster attorneys, private counsel assigned to represent people appealing criminal convictions. Compensation ranges from $94,335 to $149,208 depending on experience. Our office follows a hybrid workplace model that mixes in-office and remote work to offer flexibility and support to staff. This position is for the Lansing office.
The Voucher Review Attorney will be responsible for working with the MAACS accounting staff in reviewing and monitoring the vouchers submitted by the roster attorneys. The Voucher Review Attorney will also be responsible for responding to any inquiries from court staff as to the reasonableness of the submitted voucher.
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
• Monitoring MAACS’s annual fund for private counsel legal fees and enforcing policies and procedures.
• Performing reviews and audits of legal service bills for compliance with billing policies and procedures, including the reasonableness of the time expended for each legal service and ensuring compliance with the attorneys’ ethical duties to the client.
• Meeting with roster attorneys if necessary to review all supporting documentation and billing procedures.
• Reviewing submitted pleadings to identify performance issues.
• Performing legal research and drafting memoranda, correspondence or other documents.
• Utilizing internal case management systems to develop, maintain, and analyze statistical reports.
• Recommending policies and procedures to increase efficiency and minimize the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.
• Professionally communicating information regarding audits and billing policies in response to attorney and court inquiries; and
• Other duties as assigned.
• Candidate must be a licensed attorney in Michigan with experience in Michigan criminal appeals.
Preference will be given to attorneys with experience managing a private law practice or similar public sector experience.
• Experience tracking time and billing clients for legal services rendered in their cases.
• Professional writing skills, including the ability to draft detailed, comprehensive and accurate reports, policies, pleadings, correspondence and other documents.
• Solid analytical and investigative skills and the ability to analyze and summarize large amounts of information and data.
Proficiency with Windows, MS Word, Excel, Access or similar programs.
• Ability to strictly adhere to confidentiality requirements.
A degree in accounting or knowledge of the principles of accounting in government systems is desirable but not required.
• Candidates must be a current resident of or relocate to Michigan by hire date.
Benefits
State employee benefits are comprehensive and include:
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401k plan with up to a 9% employer contribution (partial vesting begins at 2 years)
• 13 paid holidays
• 3 weeks of paid vacation in year one
• Paid sick time and, for eligible employees, paid parental leave
• Long-term disability insurance
• Flexible work hours
• Hybrid work environment (remote/office)
• Casual dress as appropriate
• Paid training opportunities
SADO employees are members of the UAW Local 2200.
SADO offers training and mentoring and fosters an environment of success and support. With offices in Detroit and Lansing, SADO staff members form a community advocating for clients and a fair criminal legal system. Additionally, SADO provides the ability to work remotely as needed. Visit www.sado.org to learn more.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and a redacted writing sample. The cover letter should state your interest in the position and address your commitment to working with incarcerated people and people convicted of crimes. Applications should be emailed by March 22, 2026, to [email protected] and include “Job ID 2026-01” in the subject line. Applications without a resume, cover letter, and writing sample will not be considered.
Writing Sample Special Instructions: As part of its commitment to diversity in the workplace and its goal to prevent hiring bias, we ask that applicants submit redacted writing samples, which will be reviewed without access to applicant information and scored based on objective criteria. Your name, address, work affiliation, and other identifiers should be redacted from your writing sample. Files should be named generically, and your name should not be a part of the filename. For example, you can name the file WS1.pdf or WritingSample.pdf. Submitted writing samples must be original work. Use of artificial intelligence to generate this application document is discouraged.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
