Supervising Attorney for Mental Health, Assigned Counsel Plan

About the Office:

The Office of the Assigned Counsel Plan:

Pursuant to Article 18B of the County Law, the Assigned Counsel Plan (ACP) has been providing quality legal services to indigent persons since

• These services are funded by the City of New York through the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and provided with oversight of the 1st and 2nd Appellate Division Departments. The ACP provides compensation to private attorneys for representing indigent clients charged with criminal offenses. Attorneys are assigned matters by the Court and the Administrator's office when a conflict exists prohibiting the institutional providers from providing representation.

THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) advises the Mayor and First Deputy Mayor on criminal justice policy and is the Mayor’s representative to the courts, district attorneys, defenders, and state criminal justice agencies, among others. The office designs, deploys, and evaluates citywide strategies to drive down crime, reduce unnecessary arrests and incarceration, and improve the system’s fairness. MOCJ works with law enforcement and city agencies, non-profits, foundations, and others to implement data-driven strategies that address current crime conditions, prevent offending, and build the strong neighborhoods that ensure enduring safety.

About the Role:

The Supervising Attorney for Mental Health will provide oversight to 18-B attorneys to advocate for clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges in the Criminal and Supreme Courts of New York City. Under the supervision of the ACP Administrators and with significant latitude for independent judgement, the Supervising Attorney for Mental Health will provide assistance to attorneys and work to ensure best practices by executing the following tasks:

• Provide legal assistance, case consultation, and expert referral guidance to panel attorneys handling cases involving mental health issues.
• Work with other ACP Supervising Attorneys monitoring case activity to ensure attorney adherence to best practices.
• Maintain cooperative and supportive relationships with relevant personnel in state and city agencies and with community-based stake holders.
• Coordinate with ACP Supervising Attorneys for Training to provide CLE’s addressing law and issues relevant to representing clients with mental health issues.
• Oversee panel attorneys’ participation in problem-solving courts. Provide guidance to attorneys as to how and when to utilize those courts.
• Instruct attorneys in psychological defenses. Provide attorneys with case law and trial strategies.
• Direct attorneys how to effectively employ forensic and mitigation experts.
• Guide attorneys as they navigate CPL 730 and Mental Hygiene Laws.
• Respond to client, community, and staff concerns.
• Represent ACP at citywide and statewide coalition meetings, task forces, and working groups for mental health initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned PLEASE SUBMT YOUR COVER LETTER, RESUME, AND REFERENCES

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position