Appellate Brief Writer

Bronx County District Attorney Office; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Pre-tax health, dependent care, and 3–

Transit spending accounts

Job summary

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office is seeking a highly skilled Appellate Brief Writer to provide substantive legal research, writing, and litigation support under the supervision of an Assistant District Attorney. This experienced-level position is designed for exceptional writers and critical thinkers who can analyze complex legal and factual issues and produce clear, persuasive written advocacy.

The successful candidate will independently manage substantive research and writing assignments,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or J.D., LL.B., LL.M., or comparable legal degree and demonstrated superior analytical and persuasive writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise, well-organized, and compelling written work.
• Proficiency with or ability to quickly learn Westlaw, Lexis, and other legal research tools.

Responsibilities

• Draft appellate briefs, motion responses, memoranda, and other substantive legal documents under supervision.
• Assist with filing motions and briefs, proofreading, cite-checking, and generating tables of contents/ authorities.
• Conduct legal and legislative history research using Westlaw and other resources.

Skills

Analytical writing

Legal research

Attention to detail

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or JD

Tools

Westlaw

Lexis

Microsoft Word

Adobe Acrobat

Excel

Outlook

Job description

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office is seeking well-qualified staff whose diverse backgrounds reflect an ability to serve the over 1.4 million members of the Bronx County community and pursue a safer Bronx through fair justice. The Appeals Bureau seeks a highly skilled Appellate Brief Writer to provide substantive legal research, writing, and litigation support under the supervision of an Assistant District Attorney. This experienced-level position is designed for exceptional writers and critical thinkers who can analyze complex legal and factual issues and produce clear, persuasive written advocacy.

The successful candidate will independently manage substantive research and writing assignments, prepare comprehensive drafts of appellate briefs and other legal documents, and support specialized appellate and post-conviction litigation. Candidates from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply; legal education and New York Bar admission are not required.

Job Responsibilities

• Draft appellate briefs, motion responses, memoranda, and other substantive legal documents under the supervision of an Assistant District Attorney.
• Assist attorneys with all aspects of filing motions and briefs, such as proofreading, cite-checking, and generating tables of contents and tables of authorities.
• Conduct legal and legislative history research using Westlaw and other resources.
• Format and prepare documents for filing in compliance with court rules and bureau guidelines.
• Maintain digital files and case tracking databases.
• Coordinate aspects of federal habeas corpus litigation, including case tracking and record preparation.
• Coordinate and manage the Appeals Bureau’s moot court schedule.
• Provide litigation support to Assistant District Attorneys in appellate, post-conviction, and related matters.
• Fulfil defense requests for exhibits.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or J.D., LL.B., LL.M., or comparable legal degree and demonstrated superior analytical and persuasive writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise, well-organized, and compelling written work.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and analyzing complex records, source materials, legal authorities, or other information.
• Exceptional attention to detail and superb organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage writing assignments, exercise sound judgment, and meet competing deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and legal research platforms such as Westlaw or Lexis, or demonstrated ability to develop proficiency with legal research tools quickly.

Benefits

Benefits include, but are not limited to, medical, dental, and vision coverage; pre-tax health, dependent care, and transit spending account options; annual and sick leave; deferred compensation; membership in the NYC Employees’ Retirement System pension plan; and additional employee benefits.

Loan Forgiveness

LOAN FORGIVENESS: The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PLF) to all qualifying public service employees. Working with Bronx District Attorney’s Office qualifies you as a public service employee and you may be able to take advantage of this program while working full-time and meeting the program's other requirements. Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

We appreciate your interest in a position with the Bronx District Attorney's Office.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.