Verified Job
Legal
Staff Attorney, DNA Unit
Legal
#275
Remote / WFH
Legal Aid Society
Job Description
Full job description
The Criminal Defense Practice of The Legal Aid Society has openings for a Staff Attorney in its DNA Forensics Unit. The positions are in our Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens Trial Offices.
The DNA Unit was created in 2013 to provide citywide training, support and resources to attorneys whose clients are charged with forensic evidence, including DNA, fingerprint, ballistics, firearm and toolmark analysis. Staff Attorneys in the DNA Forensics Unit are the Society's in-house experts in forensic science matters and provide support for Criminal Defense Practice attorneys and other defense attorneys. They maintain caseloads pertaining to matters where DNA evidence or other forensic feature comparison methods are involved and provide support, including expert assistance and second-seating cases handled by other Society attorneys.
All members of this citywide unit work together to develop, implement, and coordinate Society policy and litigation strategy concerning forensic science matters.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide guidance and support to Society attorneys handling DNA and forensic feature comparison evidence, assist in drafting motions (e.g., oppositions to compel DNA, pretrial suppression, Frye motions), research controlling case law, develop litigation strategies, coordinate and participate in meetings with laboratories and defense experts, assist with trial preparation, and second-seat trials, where appropriate
Represent clients pertaining to matters where DNA evidence or other forensic feature comparison methods are involved
Provide in-house and external training on DNA analysis and other forensic feature comparisons.
Provide back-up support for other DNA Forensics Unit attorneys (citywide), as needed
Keep up with novel advanced DNA technologies and novel forensic feature comparison methodologies and techniques
Working substantially and collegially with others, including but not limited to Society attorneys, criminal legal system stakeholders (i.e., laboratories), and other defense organizations
Advocate for policy changes, as needed
Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
Admission to New York State Bar
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, including experience handling felony caseload, preferred
Preferred qualifications:
Science background preferred
Substantial background in forensics or the demonstrated aptitude and willingness to acquire such knowledge and to maintain expertise, particularly in such areas as forensic biology and statistics
The Criminal Defense Practice of The Legal Aid Society has openings for a Staff Attorney in its DNA Forensics Unit. The positions are in our Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens Trial Offices.
The DNA Unit was created in 2013 to provide citywide training, support and resources to attorneys whose clients are charged with forensic evidence, including DNA, fingerprint, ballistics, firearm and toolmark analysis. Staff Attorneys in the DNA Forensics Unit are the Society's in-house experts in forensic science matters and provide support for Criminal Defense Practice attorneys and other defense attorneys. They maintain caseloads pertaining to matters where DNA evidence or other forensic feature comparison methods are involved and provide support, including expert assistance and second-seating cases handled by other Society attorneys.
All members of this citywide unit work together to develop, implement, and coordinate Society policy and litigation strategy concerning forensic science matters.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide guidance and support to Society attorneys handling DNA and forensic feature comparison evidence, assist in drafting motions (e.g., oppositions to compel DNA, pretrial suppression, Frye motions), research controlling case law, develop litigation strategies, coordinate and participate in meetings with laboratories and defense experts, assist with trial preparation, and second-seat trials, where appropriate
Represent clients pertaining to matters where DNA evidence or other forensic feature comparison methods are involved
Provide in-house and external training on DNA analysis and other forensic feature comparisons.
Provide back-up support for other DNA Forensics Unit attorneys (citywide), as needed
Keep up with novel advanced DNA technologies and novel forensic feature comparison methodologies and techniques
Working substantially and collegially with others, including but not limited to Society attorneys, criminal legal system stakeholders (i.e., laboratories), and other defense organizations
Advocate for policy changes, as needed
Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
Admission to New York State Bar
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, including experience handling felony caseload, preferred
Preferred qualifications:
Science background preferred
Substantial background in forensics or the demonstrated aptitude and willingness to acquire such knowledge and to maintain expertise, particularly in such areas as forensic biology and statistics
