Plea Project Attorney at CAL

Position Overview

CAL is seeking to hire a staff attorney to join the Plea Project who will handle a caseload of felony guilty pleas and appeals from denials of downward departures under the Sex Offender Registration Act (“SORA”). The plea project attorney may be a fully remote position; however, the attorney must be available for oral arguments and client visits in New York. The attorney will be a member of the bargaining unit.

CAL is assigned to represent New Yorkers convicted of crimes in Manhattan and the Bronx in their criminal appeals and other post-conviction proceedings. We pride ourselves on adopting dynamic approaches to serve our clients and challenge the status quo. Outside of the courtroom, we work tirelessly to center and protect our clients’ well-being through the work of our Anti-Racism Working Group, Legislative Advocacy Committee, and array of Client Support Service projects. Our clients are among society’s most disenfranchised—people who have been convicted and imprisoned—and we work hard to live up to their trust. Our mission is to fight injustice through exceptional advocacy and enduring compassion for each client. We envision a post-conviction process grounded in our clients’ humanity.

The Plea Project staff attorney will handle a significant caseload of direct appeals from felony guilty pleas and appeals from denials of downward departures in risk-level proceedings under the Sex Offender Registration Act (“SORA”). With all appeals, the attorney will be responsible for communications with the client, including addressing issues to be raised on appeal. With guilty-plea appeals, where the appeal presents the possibility of plea withdrawal, the attorney will be responsible for carefully evaluating the potential harms and risks associated with vacating the pleas and discussing those issues with their clients in letters, phone calls, and in-person visits. With guilty-plea appeals where no plea-withdrawal issue is presented, or where the client does not want to take the risks of seeking plea withdrawal, the attorney will be responsible for drafting briefs with risk-free issues (frequently excessive sentencing or suppression claims) or obtaining a stipulation of withdrawal from the client. For SORA appeals, advice and guidance in response to questions regarding ongoing SORA registration compliance will initially be the responsibility of the Director of the SORA Practice, but will shift to the plea project attorney as the attorney gains expertise in SORA practice. In all cases, the attorney will draft reply briefs, and orally argue in the Appellate Division where appropriate, and will seek leave to appeal from the New York Court of Appeals in appropriate cases. Because of the nature of guilty-plea and downward departure SORA appeals, the Plea Project staff attorney’s caseload will be larger than other staff attorneys.

LOCATION
Although CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and attorneys are permitted to work remotely 8-10 days per month, the plea project attorney may be a fully remote position. The attorney must be available for oral arguments and client visits in New York. CAL is based in New York City.

SALARY
Starting salary will be at least $87,293 for a 2021 graduate and at least $112,528 for a 2014 graduate. CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal and sick days.