Criminal Defense Practice Staff Attorney – Entry Level Fall 2027

The Legal Aid Society • Full-time • New York, New York, United States • 5h ago

The Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Practice is seeking dedicated and passionate entry-level Staff Attorneys for trial offices in the five boroughs of New York City. Entry level staff attorneys are defined as those that have 0-3 years of experience in criminal defense, are admitted to practice in the State of New York or can practice Pro Hac Vice pursuant to New York State rules.

The Criminal Defense Practice is the primary public defender in New York City, providing holistic, client- centered representation to people facing misdemeanor, felony, and homicide charges. Staff Attorneys will provide zealous advocacy and handle all aspects of criminal defense, from arraignment through trial, sentencing, and beyond.

The deadline to apply is December 2, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early. Interviews will be scheduled throughout the fall, and if you are selected for an interview, you will receive an email notification during this season. Offers will also be extended on a rolling basis.

The application process will include:

On Campus Interview (OCI), if applicable, serving as a screening
Two rounds of interviews
Reference check

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for the full holistic representation of clients on misdemeanor Criminal matters, which include, client counseling, preparing motions, plea negotiations, directing and participating in investigations, reviewing discovery materials and compliance, interviewing witnesses, advising clients of collateral consequences, referring cases for social work intervention and mitigation, preparing for and conducting hearings and trials
Engage in frequent court appearances and litigation, including arraignments, bail reviews and writs of habeas corpus, preliminary conferences & examinations, legal arguments, hearings & trials, and sentencings
Interview clients and their families in person and through virtual means, conduct legal research; and write pre-pleading letters, motions, and pre-sentencing memoranda on behalf of clients
Coordinate work performed by defense team members such as investigators, social workers, paralegals, and others
Work with cross-practice colleagues (immigration defense/civil defense/family defense) to obtain comprehensive legal outcomes for clients
File motions, briefs, and other related documents on a frequent, timely basis
Handle ancillary proceedings related to the criminal cases
Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

Be admitted to the New York State Bar or law school graduate eligible to practice under The Legal Aid Society's Practice Order
Have knowledge of the law of evidence, criminal and constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and ethical principles contained in the Rules of Professional Conduct
A demonstrated commitment to serving racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities and an understanding of the racial disparities affecting client communities
The ability to work collegially and collaboratively with others

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $86,520 - $157,075

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

Cover Letter
Resume
Official/Unofficial Transcript
Writing Sample

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.