SORA Staff Attorney

About the role

The Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) is a leading holistic legal services organization dedicated to providing high-quality appellate representation to low-income New Yorkers. We are committed to ensuring that every individual has access to fair and just legal representation in the appellate courts and in a full panoply of post-conviction litigation grounded in our client’s humanity. Our team of dedicated attorneys, paralegals, and staff work tirelessly to advocate for our clients’ rights and uphold the principles of justice.

Responsibilities

• Represent individuals on the “sex offender” registry in proceedings related to the duration of their registration and level of community notification.
• Appear frequently in trial courts in the Bronx and Manhattan, as well as represent clients in occasional appellate cases.
• Engage in dynamic oral advocacy at adversarial hearings.
• Submit comprehensive motions that combine legal research with mitigation writing to counter the dehumanizing effect of the registration and carceral systems.
• Work closely with clients and the rest of the SORA team, developing an expertise in a burgeoning field at the intersection of criminal and civil law.
• Adopt dynamic approaches to serve our clients and challenge the status quo.
• Participate in and contribute to the work of the Anti-Racism Working Group, Legislative Advocacy Committee, and other Client Support Service projects.

Requirements

• Law degree from an ABA-approved law school.
• Admitted to practice in New York State.
• Experience in post-conviction litigation, particularly in sex offender registration matters.
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Commitment to social justice and serving marginalized communities.

Qualifications

• Preferred candidates will have experience in post-conviction litigation, particularly in sex offender registration matters.
• Experience working with clients who have been convicted and imprisoned.
• Fluency in a foreign language regularly used in the practice is preferred.

Skills

• Exceptional research and writing skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

Benefits

CAL offers comprehensive medical benefits, a retirement account, and generous vacation time, holidays, personal, and sick days.

Pay

Starting salary will be between $90,047 for a 2025 graduate and $110,160 for a 2017 graduate, with an additional $3,000 differential for candidates fluent in a foreign language regularly used in the practice.

Schedule

The position is based at CAL’s New York City office. CAL has a hybrid remote office policy and attorneys are permitted to work remotely 8-14 days per month.

Equity and Inclusion

At CAL, we embrace and value our staff’s diversity, recognizing that our differences strengthen our community and advance our mission. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply. CAL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, citizenship status, color, credit history, creed, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, marital status, partnership status, pregnancy, race, religion, salary history, sexual and reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, status as a covered veteran or active military service member, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.