Attorney-in-Charge, New York County Trial Office - New York, NY

The Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Practice seeks a visionary and justice-driven Attorney-in-Charge (AIC) to lead its New York County trial office. This role is ideal for a dynamic leader who is deeply committed to trial litigation and advocacy, racial justice and equity, transformative public defense, and the growth and empowerment of interdisciplinary teams.

The AIC will guide and collaborate with a diverse staff of attorneys, social workers, paralegals, and support professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, and continuous learning. With a strong foundation in trial advocacy and team leadership, the AIC will champion representation that centers the dignity and humanity of every client. The AIC will directly manage a leadership team consisting of Supervising Attorneys and other related managers across the Trial Office.

This position is not only about managing operations-it's about inspiring a new generation of public defenders, investing in their professional development, and ensuring an affirming workplace. The AIC will collaborate across the Legal Aid Society and with external partners to advance systemic change, reduce harm, and uphold the organization's mission of equal justice for all.

As a key member of the Criminal Defense Practice's leadership, the AIC will help shape strategic priorities, mentor emerging leaders, and build bridges with communities most impacted by the criminal legal system. This is a unique opportunity to lead with purpose, advocate with integrity, and make a lasting impact on the lives of New Yorkers.

The Legal Aid Society is the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit law firm, rooted in the belief that justice should belong to everyone-not just those who can afford it. For nearly a century and a half, we have stood alongside New Yorkers who have been silenced, marginalized, or criminalized-offering not just legal representation, but a powerful voice for dignity, equity, and systemic change.

With a presence in every borough and a reach that spans over 300,000 legal matters annually, our Civil, Criminal Defense, and Juvenile Rights Practices provide an unparalleled depth of expertise to the city's most vulnerable communities. Whether in courtrooms, communities, or policy arenas, we are committed to breaking down barriers to justice and building a more equitable future for all.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

As Attorney-in-Charge, you will serve as a transformational leader for the New York County Criminal Defense Trial Office-guiding a team of passionate advocates committed to justice, equity, and the power of community-centered defense. Primary responsibilities include:

• Embrace the evolving needs of the office and the communities it serves, taking on additional responsibilities as needed to advance the mission
• Lead with vision and compassion, overseeing daily operations while cultivating a culture of excellence, inclusion, and mutual respect

• Inspire and empower a multidisciplinary team of attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals, and support staff to deliver holistic, client-centered advocacy
• Champion racial equity and social justice, ensuring that every aspect of the office's work reflects a deep commitment to dismantling systemic racism and uplifting impacted communities
• Serve as a bridge-builder, representing the office in critical conversations with the District Attorney's Office, the Office of Court Administration, elected officials, and community partners
• Respond with integrity to the needs and concerns of clients, staff, and community members, fostering trust and transparency
• Assess and advocate for the resources necessary to support staff well-being, professional growth, and sustainable workloads
• Shape legal strategy with creativity and courage, ensuring that every case is approached with rigor, innovation, and a commitment to justice
• Model collaborative leadership, encouraging open communication, shared decision-making, and collective accountability
• Mentor and develop leaders, investing in the growth of supervisory staff and nurturing the next generation of public defenders
• Prioritize professional development, creating opportunities for learning, reflection, and advancement across all roles

• Responsible for overall Manhattan Trial Office operations, including but not limited to recruitment, retention, staff development, and staff performance/evaluation

• Balance competing demands with clarity, empathy, and strategic foresight
• Additional duties as needed or assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in New York State or ability to waive into New York State from another jurisdiction
• 15+ years of criminal defense experience, with a strong foundation in litigation and trial advocacy
• 10+ years of leadership and management experience, with a proven ability to guide diverse, interdisciplinary teams
• A demonstrated commitment to transformative legal practice, including holistic defense and community engagement
• A deep understanding of racial equity, anti-oppression frameworks, and the role of public defenders in advancing systemic change
• A passion for mentorship, coaching, and professional development, with a track record of building inclusive, empowered teams
• Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Strong legal research and writing abilities, with fluency in relevant technologies
• Experience in recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse talent
• A collaborative spirit and a steadfast belief in the power of teamwork that drives meaningful change

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working with NY Office of Court Administration and the District Attorney of New York County (DANY)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers.
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society's mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required:

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video
• Requires occasional or frequent physical movement to perform essential job functions which may include, bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, standing or walking for long periods of time, accessing small spaces
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region

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: $195,755

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
• Writing Sample

Within your cover letter, please provide contextual background on the largest organization or team where you've played a leadership role, including sharing the headcount and job titles involved.

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@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.

Manhattan - Criminal Defense Practice Office