Mitigation Specialist

Position Description Join Michigan’s State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) as a full-time, limited-term Mitigation Specialist for the Private Counsel Division of SADO. The salary range for this position is $57,252 to $96,048, depending on experience. This is a full-time, limited-term position with funding allocated through September 30, 2027. Continuation of this position beyond that date is contingent on future budget allocations. Mitigation specialists are supervised and trained by the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS) Administrator or the MAACS Roster Support and Performance Manager. This position can be based out of SADO’s Detroit or Lansing office. The position requires extensive travel (about 20% of the time) and offers a flexible hybrid work policy. Job Responsibilities Specific Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To Interview, and build rapport with incarcerated clients to learn about their background, the facts of the offense, current experiences while incarcerated, and specific needs upon release; Identify, locate, and interview family, friends, community members, and other individuals to compile material in mitigation of sentence; Travel extensively throughout Michigan and occasionally out of state to visit clients in prison and interview witnesses; Obtain, analyze, and summarize records and documents, including prison records, social files, school records, and medical and mental health records; Prepare reports, including client and witness interview memos, social history reports, and sentencing memoranda, using creative writing and storytelling techniques; Identify support for clients transitioning back into the community; Identify and consult with appropriate experts to obtain reports and prepare for hearings; Prepare clients for testifying in court or presenting allocution; In limited circumstances, testify in court; Train attorneys and staff on mitigation and parole hearings; and Assist attorneys with general hearing preparation such as preparing exhibits, coordinating with witnesses, attending court hearings, and other necessary tasks.