Staff Attorney, Parole Revocation Defense - Fall 2027

The Legal Aid Society - New York City; New York (NY); On-site; USD 87,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice seeks Staff Attorneys for the Parole Revocation Defense Unit in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Attorneys represent clients at parole revocation and recognizance hearings across NYC, including state and federal facilities.

The role is litigation‑intensive in a fast‑paced environment, requiring NYS Bar admission and strong courtroom skills; Spanish fluency is strongly preferred. Salary range and benefits accompany the position.

Qualifications

• New York State Bar Admission is required; may consider applicants with pending applications if they have sat or are registered for July 2027 NYS bar exam, MPRE, and NYLE.
• 2 years of relevant experience, or more, preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Handle parole revocation at all stages: recognizance hearings, preliminary hearings, calendar appearances, discovery, negotiations, contested hearings, administrative appeals, and post‑conviction hearings.
• Work with unit staff, paralegals, and investigators to provide zealous defense representation.
• Partner with PRDU social work team to identify mitigation for clients with mental health or substance abuse issues and those suitable for alternatives to incarceration.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong courtroom skills

Fluency in Spanish

Education

New York State Bar Admission

Job description

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice has openings in the Parole Revocation Defense Unit (PRDU) for Staff Attorneys beginning in Fall 2027 in the Bronx and Brooklyn offices. Placement in the Bronx or Brooklyn office is subject to staffing needs, with attorneys providing representation to clients across New York City.

A PRDU Staff Attorney represents clients accused of violating their conditions of release at administrative parole revocation hearings and recognizance hearings held in the criminal and supreme courts, federal detention facilities, hospital prison wards and, where applicable, local correctional facilities throughout New York City. The Staff Attorney also appears on behalf of clients at related habeas corpus proceedings, administrative and local criminal court appeals, and other post‑conviction proceedings. The practice is fast‑paced and litigation‑intensive.

Attorneys spend significant amounts of time in courtrooms in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for handling parole revocation at all stages, including recognizance hearings, preliminary hearings, calendar appearances, discovery practice, negotiations, contested hearings, administrative appeals, and post‑conviction hearings
• Work with unit support staff, paralegals, and investigative staff to provide zealous and effective defense representation
• Partner with PRDU social work team to identify and develop mitigation for clients who have mental health and/or substance abuse issues, medical needs, or who are otherwise suitable for alternatives to incarceration
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• New York State Bar Admission. Those applicants who have pending applications for the NYS bar or are a law school graduate in May 2027 and have sat or are registered to sit for the July 2027 NYS bar examination, the March and/or August 2027 MPRE, and the August 2027 NYLE will be considered
• 2 years of relevant experience, or more, preferred
• Strong courtroom skills
• A background in criminal and/or administrative law or prison-related litigation is particularly relevant
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred

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: $86,520 - $157,075

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.)

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.