Job Details for Mitigation Specialist
| Court Name/Organization: | New York Northern Federal Public Defender |
| Overview of the Position: | We seek a Mitigation Specialist to join our office in April 2024. The Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of New York is a law office that provides legal representation to persons charged with committing federal crimes who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. We represent the accused from arrest through trial and appeal, including the U.S. Supreme Court. We are attorneys, paralegals, investigators, office administrators, and information technology specialists. Our team fosters interdisciplinary skill sets that ensure compassionate and comprehensive representation. We work together to uphold every person's right to be presumed innocent, to have a fair trial, to mitigation, and to have a fair sentence, if convicted. Our defense is vigorous, both at trial and on appeal. We advocate for humane sentences through client-centered representation, which honors an individual's lived experience. |
| Location: | Albany, NY |
| Opening and Closing Dates: | 03/12/2024 - Open Until Filled |
| Appointment Type: | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade: | JSP 11/12/13/14 commensurate with qualifications and experience |
| Announcement Number: | 2024-05 |
Position Description
The mitigation specialist will assist attorneys across the district in investigating, analyzing, developing, and presenting mitigation evidence in the life history of clients. The mitigation specialist will gather and summarize social history records and conduct interviews with lay and professional people with relevant knowledge about the client’s early childhood development, education, employment, and medical and mental health histories. The mitigation specialist will also consult experts; develop and maintain relationships with clients, their family members, local social service providers, and pretrial service officers; and perform other duties as assigned. Maintain sufficient knowledge of current research and trends in areas such as substance abuse, mental health, psychology, and treatment. The Mitigation Specialist may be asked to testify in court.
Qualification
To qualify, the applicant should have the following:
- A desire and capacity to work collaboratively in a team environment
- Understanding of the methods and skills required for accomplishing the duties of the position. Strong legal research and writing skills.
- Computer fluency in the Microsoft Office suite of programs, including Word, Excel and Adobe Acrobat
- High level of organizational skills to gather, maintain, and manage documents and information for assigned cases
- The ability to speak and write clearly and effectively
- The ability to read, analyze, and interpret records and legal documents
- The ability to exercise good judgment in a mature and diplomatic manner
- The ability to recognize and analyze problems and recommend practical solutions
- The ability to keep confidences and protect legal privileges
- The ability to recognize and analyze problems and recommend practical solutions
- The desire to work with and on behalf of people from diverse backgrounds
- A strong commitment to providing holistic representational support to indigent persons in proceedings under federal criminal law
- Proficiency in Spanish (preferred)
Benefits
The position offers federal employment benefits, including paid vacation, paid sick time, paid holidays, health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401k). Teleworking is available, consistent with office policy, court obligations, and position duties.
Miscellaneous
The starting annual salary for this position falls within a range under the Judicial Salary Plan (JSP) from Grade 11 at $74,684 to Grade 14 at $163,524. The salary of the successful applicant will be commensurate with the person’s qualifications and years of experience.
How To Apply
To apply for this position, qualified persons shall email a single PDF containing a cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample to Frank Faragon at: frank_faragon@fd.org using the subject reference: Mitigation Specialist.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.