Supervising Attorney, Prisoners' Rights Project; PRP NY

Position: Supervising Attorney, Prisoners' Rights Project (PRP) - New York, NY
Location: New York

Supervising Attorney, Prisoners' Rights Project (PRP)

New York, New York, United States

(3:00 PM EST)

Overview

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice seeks an experienced, committed, and talented lawyer to join a team of skilled advocates as a Supervising Attorney in the Prisoners' Rights Project (PRP). PRP protects the legal rights of people incarcerated in New York City jails and New York State prisons through impact litigation, legislative and oversight advocacy, policy change, and direct administrative advocacy.

Priority areas include health and safety, protection from solitary confinement, sexual abuse, LGBTQI rights, safe confinement conditions, access to medical and mental health care, and treatment of prisoners with disabilities. A significant portion of work is post-judgment enforcement of relief, often co‑counseled with pro‑bono law firms and collaboration across Legal Aid practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES Legal Duties

• Maintain an active caseload of pending and new litigation to advance PRP’s goals.
• Together with other supervising attorneys, oversee integration of individual client intake and advocacy into policy and litigation.
• Substantively direct legislative and administrative policy initiatives in close collaboration with other units of Legal Aid and external stakeholders.
• Engage directly in all aspects of litigation and collaborate with attorneys in setting strategy and priorities and managing cases.
• Work collaboratively and collegially with pro‑bono counsel, colleagues in other parts of Legal Aid, community groups, legislators, and other stakeholders.
• Conduct and participate in community education, training, media, and outreach to educate the public, legal professionals, and promote PRP’s work.

Team Development and Supervision

• Assist the Director of PRP in daily operations and direct supervision of legal work.
• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work requests following LAS policy and procedures.
• Attend management meetings, participate in management trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices, and guidance from Human Resources.
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback and coaching, and issue disciplinary action as needed.
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed.
• Execute general managerial duties, administrative tasks, and data collection.

Additional Supervisory Responsibilities

• Identify and implement unit management and accountability practices to improve performance.
• Resolve employee conflict, complaints, and address union concerns with guidance from Human Resources.
• Hire and supervise interns and volunteers.

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development.
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS Required qualifications

• Admission to the New York bar, or eligibility to waive into New York bar.
• Minimum 8 years of litigation experience, with a strong preference for experience in civil rights, prisoners' rights litigation, New York correctional agencies, or law reform litigation.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to racial equity and civil rights.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in and communicate complex legal analysis.
• Excellent writing, litigation, and advocacy skills.
• Collegiality and ability to work in and value diverse teams.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience litigating class cases and enforcing consent decrees.
• Experience with policy advocacy.
• Experience supervising lawyers and legal staff.

KNOWLEDGE,

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Position-Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep substantive knowledge of civil litigation techniques.
• Demonstrated excellent legal analysis.
• Demonstrated strong writing skills.
• Ability to foster and encourage teamwork and…