Spring Semester Externship - Office of the Appellate Defender : Job Details

Location New York City Full-Time/Part-Time Part-Time Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt Category Internship About the Organization The Office of the Appellate Defender is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 35 years, OAD has stood as a beacon of hope for people at the intersection of poverty and injustice. Our clients have been convicted of felony offenses in Manhattan and/or the Bronx and have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and post-release supervision. Despite the circumstances of our clients' offenses, convictions, and sentences, we believe in the humanity and dignity of every human being which informs our client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. We are a beloved community of colleagues who are dedicated to public defense, access to justice, and racial equity. Description Spring Semester ExternshipThe Office of Appellate Defender (OAD) is accepting applications from current law students interested in working as an extern in either direct appeals or one of our related projects during the school year. We can only accommodate 2 to 3 interns this semester. Students must sign up with their law school in order to receive credit for their work.A semester externship offers an opportunity to learn about OAD and acquire hands on litigation and appellate experience. Law students selected for a semester internship work closely with our attorneys, conduct legal research, draft motions, briefs, and other documents. Depending on the assignments to which they are assigned, the interns might have the opportunity to communicate with clients, make prison visits to clients who are incarcerated, appear, or assist attorneys in court and argue motions. Students selected for a semester externship position may work a part-time schedule between 15 to 40 hours per week. The OAD projects currently accepting interns for the semester are:The Reinvestigation ProjectOAD's Reinvestigation Project identifies and investigates potential wrongful convictions. The Project searches for such wrongful conviction flags as questionable eyewitness identification, possible false confessions, the use of unreliable evidence, police and/or prosecutorial misconduct, and ineffective assistance of counsel. An intern with the reinvestigation unit would:

• conduct witness investigations,
• consult with experts,
• help identify and digest cases with potential claims of wrongful convictions,
• assist attorneys with research, writing and litigation of postconviction motions.

The Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) ProjectIn 2019, the legislature passed the DVSJA, creating an avenue of relief for people in prison who have also been victimized by domestic abuse. Our project advocates for current and former clients in cases where their sentences do not reflect this substantial mitigation. Interns helping with the DVSJA project may aid in many ways, including:

• using trauma-informed strategies to gather information about a client's personal and social histories.
• requesting and collecting supporting records from institutional sources.
• creating and maintaining intake protocols and organization; and
• drafting postconviction petitions to request relief under the DVSJA.

Non-Citizen Client ProjectThe Non-Citizen Client Project creatively advocates on behalf of OAD's non-citizen clients, who face a variety of harsh immigration consequences. We conduct a thorough analysis to determine how/if the conviction on appeal might impact the immigration status of the client, and then determine a path forward that offers the best chance of mitigating the immigration consequences. An intern addressing immigration issues will work on repleader requests, and 440 motions. They would have the opportunity to work on a substantive writing assignment and interact with clients because the work would require a lot of client contact and gathering of equities.SORA ProjectThe SORA practice at OAD consists of representing clients in sex offender registration hearings prior to their release. We mount challenges to the recommended levels sought by the DA's office and advocate for our clients around restrictive SORA policies, including barring people from certain housing. An intern with this project will compile information about past clients in order to formulate legal strategies for systemic litigation. They will also have an opportunity to draft motions to release people from the registry, and to challenge convictions based on new legal precedents.Who You AreOAD looks for individuals who:

• Have a profound commitment to public service and understand what it means to work with and for people, whose backgrounds and lived experiences are different from their own, with sensitivity and humility.
• Are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal legal system and want to contribute to a work environment that values teamwork, inclusion, and respect.
• Are from a variety of backgrounds which bring different perspectives to best serve our clients, who are predominantly Black and Brown people.
• Have experience in moot court, trial advocacy, debate, public speaking, and clinics or internships.

Application ProcessTo join our community please apply here with a cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample (no more than 10 pages) here. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must state: (1) why you are interested in working at OAD; (2) whether you are interested in working on direct appeals, or a specific project; and (3) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate.We will be accepting applications until the positions are filled. Applications are not accepted by regular mail or e-mail. Questions may be sent to: [email protected] Statement OAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. This position is currently accepting applications.