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Prisoners’ Legal Services (PLS), a statewide program, has a challenging career opportunity for a highly motivated, dedicated professional to lead its statewide efforts to provide pro bono legal services to people incarcerated in New York State prisons. PLS represents incarcerated individuals on civil issues associated with conditions of confinement including, constitutional issues, disciplinary matters, excessive use of force, mental and medical treatment and sentencing issues.

The Director must be an innovative self-starter, who is passionate about providing legal services to the indigent, underserved prison population. The Director will be responsible for developing, implementing and administering a statewide pro bono program that includes networking and partnering with large, medium and small law firms, the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar and other county Bar associations as well as collaborating with law schools and assisting in the development and implementation of a research and writing project for law students. The Director will be responsible for coordinating PLS’ CLE accreditation program, initiating and carrying out special projects and designing and implementing relevant training programs. The Director will be responsible for the referral of cases to outside counsel and for overseeing and coordinating legal backup for those referrals. Statewide travel will be required to coordinate with upstate law firms and law schools and to enable the Director to work with the PLS offices in Albany, Buffalo, Plattsburgh and Ithaca. The Director must also have extremely strong organizational, communication and writing skills.

The ideal candidate must be admitted to practice in New York State and have a minimum of five (5) years of legal practice experience in one of the following: the delivery of legal services to the poor, civil rights, poverty law or federal litigation and three (3) years of pro bono-related experience. This position is available immediately.

Salary commensurate with experience. Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of three references by mail, fax or email to:

Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York
41 State Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 445-6050
FAX: (518) 445-6053
Email: pkane@plsny.org (Word or WP format)

Equal Opportunity Employer