Legal Director of the Public Defense Backup Center

Job Description

Job Description

The New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) is seeking a Legal Director to lead and coordinate the Public Defense Backup Center’s legal program, which provides resources and direct defender support to public defense attorneys statewide. The Backup Center’s legal program is currently staffed with nine staff attorneys and Discovery and Forensic Support Unit attorneys, and administrative staff. The Legal Director will collaborate with NYSDA’s other programs to ensure cohesive services that align with the organization’s mission and vision for client-centered high-quality representation throughout the state.

The Legal Director will keep abreast of the criminal, family, and related laws that impact public defense work, and will establish goals and guide the allocation of work among the legal team members. The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing attorneys and legal staff as well as expertise in issues of public defense and criminal and family law.

NYSDA, a not-for-profit, membership organization, has been providing support to New York's public defense community since 1967. NYSDA’s mission is to improve the quality and scope of publicly supported legal representation to people who cannot afford counsel. NYSDA operates the state’s Public Defense Backup Center, which provides legal support services, training programs, its Public Defense Case Management System, and other services to public defense offices and assigned counsel attorneys throughout the state. NYSDA offers high quality training to public defense attorneys, investigators, social workers, and other members of the public defense team. The Backup Center is instrumental in assisting defenders around the state to advance quality representation in criminal and family court cases.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee direct defender support, including case consultations, publications and resources, and training.
• Supervise the Backup Center’s legal team, including the Discovery and Forensic Support Unit.
• Evaluate and enhance intake procedures and recordkeeping.
• Ensure policies and procedures to maintain confidentiality.
• Collaborate with other programs, including the Veterans Defense Program, Public Defense Case Management System program, and Public Defense Recruitment and Retention project.
• Review requests for amicus briefs, make recommendations to the Executive Director, and manage the preparation of amicus briefs.
• Develop and maintain indepth knowledge of New York’s public defense system to increase organizational impact, including criminal, family, and related areas of law, and key legal issues affecting public defenders and their clients.
• Review legislative bills and author bill memos where appropriate.
• Build and cultivate relationships with other defense organizations, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizations; participate in committees and working groups as appropriate.
• Ensure that legal team members have clear roles and responsibilities and that assignments have clear goals and objectives; guide professional development for legal team members.

The above duties and responsibilities are intended to provide a framework of the position’s requirements and are not intended to cover all functions of the role. The Legal Director may be required to perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director or Executive Director.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience
• Admitted to practice law in New York.
• 7+ years of direct criminal defense and/or public defense representation. Experience with family defense representation and/or working within interdisciplinary teams is ideal.
• Successful management experience, ideally in a legal nonprofit or social justice organization.
• Alignment with NYSDA’s mission to improve the quality of representation in criminal and family defense.
• Excellent legal research and writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to develop objectives, evaluate effectiveness, and assess needs.
• Ability to travel to public defense offices throughout New York State, including locations that do not have public transportation.

NYSDA’s main office is in Albany, New York. Applicants must be able to work in the Albany office or work remotely in New York State and attend in-person meetings in Albany at least twice a month. The position involves occasional travel to meetings and events in New York and other states, and some evening and weekend hours.

Salary: $140,000 - $160,000, depending on experience

The position is eligible for NYSDA’s generous benefit package, including paid vacation, personal, sick, and parental leave; health, dental, and vision insurance coverage; flexible spending account; and 403(b) with an employer contribution after one year.

To apply, please click apply and upload a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Applications without the required materials will not be considered. Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Expected start date: Fall 2026

NYSDA is an equal opportunity employer. NYSDA values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages candidates of all identities, orientations, experiences, and communities to apply.