Join Michigan’s State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) as our first-ever Assistant Youth Appellate Defender working statewide to represent children as they appeal their juvenile adjudications. The position pays from $64,728 to $131,397, 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 either the Detroit or Lansing office.
The Assistant Youth Appellate Defender will represent young people on their direct appeals or for other post-disposition proceedings. Appeals involve challenges to adjudications following trials and pleas. Job responsibilities will include:
• Effectively, proactively, and compassionately communicate with clients, family members, team members, colleagues, community resources, and service providers to ensure optimal outcomes and resolve challenges
• Travel to Michigan’s youth detention centers to consult with clients and evaluate conditions of confinement
• Investigate, develop, and litigate novel and cutting-edge legal arguments to advance and expand the rights of young people in contact with the youth justice system
• Research legal issues and compose appellate and trial court briefs and motions
• Argue in the trial and appellate courts, including the Michigan Supreme Court
• Work to identify and advocate for solutions to systemic issues
• Interview witnesses, investigate and develop new evidence, and conduct evidentiary hearings in the trial courts, including direct and cross examination of witnesses
• Collaborate with staff investigator and mitigation specialist to develop claims on appeal
• Work collaboratively with team and community resources to assist clients and their families in matters related to housing, education, school discipline, mental health, and other collateral matters that contribute to deepening system involvement
• Continuously seek professional and personal development through trainings and skills courses
• Applicants must be current members of the Michigan Bar or eligible to waive into the bar
• Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to youth defense, indigent defense, public service, and racial equity
• The ideal candidate will have experience representing children in delinquency proceedings and be an experienced youth defense trainer; youth public defense experience is preferred
• Knowledge, training, and experience related to adolescent development, neuroscience, education, mental health treatment, and best practices for rehabilitation of children
• Skills in legal research and writing, client communication, and oral advocacy
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of different backgrounds and lived experiences and proven expertise in communicating with children and adolescents is preferred
Benefits
State employee benefits are comprehensive and include:
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401k plan with up to a 9% employer contribution
• 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)
• Paid training opportunities
Submit a cover letter stating your interest in the position. Include your resume and a redacted writing sample.
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.
Applications should be emailed by May 26, 2024, to [email protected] and include “Job ID 03-2024” in the subject line.