The Assigned Counsel Program of Erie County is always looking for new talent to join our growing team! Check out our current open positions
Interested in a position? Please send resumes to:
Hope Keilman
Chief Financial Officer/HR
Erie County Bar Association Aid to Indigent Prisoners Society Inc.
403 Main Street
Buffalo NY 14203
Or emailed to:
Deputy – Quality Assurance
Job Title: Deputy – Quality Assurance
Department/Group: Criminal Division
Directly Reports to: First Deputy Defender – Criminal Division
Location: 403 Main Street, Suite 215, Brisbane Building, Buffalo, NY 14203
Travel Required: Some Travel Required
Position Type: Full-Time
Job Description
Role and Responsibilities
The Deputy for Quality Assurance shall provide supervision, monitor and maintain quality control of the criminal panel attorneys, and assess and report training needs to the First Deputy Defender and the Chief Defender. The Deputy – QA is response to monitor, mentor and assist in the training and review of the attorneys on the Criminal Panel, to ensure that they meet and ideally exceed the standards established by the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services.
DUTIES
• Assist the First Deputy Defender – Criminal with recruitment of new panel members.
• Review applications; conduct interviews of new applicants to the Criminal Panel with the First Deputy Defender.
• Attend training of new panel members and provide input as needed.
• Overall management of the Mentorship Program which includes development and revision; selection of mentors and mentees; training of mentors; linking of mentors and mentees; voucher review and approval.
• Participation in individual and group case conferences.
• Participate in annual panel review.
• Present CLEs.
• Supervise and train the Parole Panel attorneys.
• Monitor Fourth Judicial Department disciplinary decisions for panel member censures, suspensions and disbarments; report same to the Executive Director and First Deputy Defender.
• Monitor death notices to see if a panel attorney has passed away.
• Respond when there is a client complaint about a panel attorney; counsel the attorney regarding such complaint; report to the Chief Defender re: complaints and the resolution.
• Assume the duties of the First Deputy Defender in their absence.
• Other duties as may be assigned
Qualifications and Education Requirements
– Licensed to practice law in the State of New York
– Member of the Bar Association of Erie County and the New York State Defenders Association
– Must have completed a minimum of 15 (fifteen) years of service in Criminal Defense work
– Must have experience defending Homicide and A/B Felony matters
Preferred Skills
Applicants should possess superior communication and court room skills, strong interpersonal and professional skills, and have demonstrated superior quality work during their career. Experience presenting at CLEs.
Additional Notes
The Assigned Counsel Program is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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First Deputy Defender – Criminal
Job Title: First Deputy Defender – Criminal
Department/Group: Criminal Division
Directly Reports to: Chief Defender
Location: Buffalo, New York
Travel Required: Some Travel Required
Position Type: Full-Time
Job Description
Role and Responsibilities
The First Deputy Defender is primarily responsible for the criminal legal work done with our clients:
• Oversees all departments of ACP’s Criminal Division
• Recruit and interview candidates who wish to join our panel
• Manage the annual panel reviews
• Determine the panel level for all criminal defense attorneys (misdemeanor, felony, homicide, etc.)
• Is involved with the planning and content organization of attorney trainings, case conferences, and CLEs
• Coordinates communications with Judges, court clerks, and panel attorneys
• Monitors the legal work of our criminal panel, especially the legal work of new panel attorneys
• Oversees the assignments made to criminal panel attorneys and determines co-counsel assignments
• Supervises the Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) program
• Assists the Chief Defender with all program issues and planning
• Represents ACP in the absence of the Chief Defender
• Other duties as may be assigned
Qualifications and Education Requirements
– Licensed to practice law in the State of New York
– Member of the Bar Association of Erie County and the New York State Defenders Association
– Must have completed a minimum of 15 (fifteen) years of service in Criminal Defense work
– Must have experience defending Homicide and A/B Felony matters
Preferred Skills
– Experience in a supervisory role preferred
– Exhibits excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills
– Expertise in complex problem solving
Additional Notes
The Assigned Counsel Program is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Deputy for Continuing Legal Education (CLE)/Training
Job Title: Deputy for Continuing Legal Education (CLE)/Training
Department/Group: Criminal Division
Directly Reports to: First Deputy Defender – Criminal Division
Location: 403 Main Street, Suite 215, Brisbane Building, Buffalo, NY 14203
Travel Required: Some Travel Required
Position Type: Full-Time
Job Description
Role and Responsibilities
The Deputy for CLE/Training facilitates CLE programs throughout the year; assist criminal defense panel attorneys with legal and trial practice questions; assist with the criminal defense attorney training programs (for new criminal defense attorneys; for serious felony panel training; and develop a homicide panel training program); and directly supervises the contract legal writing specialist(s). The Deputy is responsible to help ensure that our panel attorneys are well grounded in the fundamentals of criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, rules of evidence and effective trial advocacy, and are up-to-date in the latest legislative and common law developments in these areas of practice.
- Frequently provides monographs (“The Law and You”) on relevant and timely topics; this is intended to acquaint counsel with the statutes, key cases and policy considerations that underlie the legal principles in question. Practical suggestions are also provided where appropriate.
- Responsible for conducting and/or participating in high-caliber CLE presentations (from one to several hours in duration), on timely and relevant topics of law, procedure, evidence and advocacy that provide both written materials (e.g., Power Points and other articles) and clear explanation of the subject matter.
- In this regard, the ACP also works in conjunction with other organizations to host CLE presentations by guest speakers who have expertise in different areas of law.
- Participates with other Deputies in advocacy training of new lawyers as well as continuing training for more advanced lawyers seeking to move into serious felony practice (or experienced lawyers who understand that there is always more to learn and room to improve) and the homicide panel.
- Participates in case conferences with panel attorneys and ACP Deputies; consults with individual attorneys who may have substantive or procedural questions in connection with a particular case that they are handling.
- Participates in the periodic evaluation and review of panel attorneys.
- Other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Admission to the NYS Bar
At least 15 years of experience in criminal law, either as an educator, attorney, or judge.
Preferred Skills
Legal research and writing skills
Practical experience and insight
Genuine curiosity about and interest in the law and the willingness to share valuable information that counsel can actually use in their day-to-day practices to achieve the best possible outcomes for their clients
Additional Notes
The Assigned Counsel Program is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT-CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION UNIT
Job Summary
- The Administrative Assistant shall facilitate the efficient operation of the criminal investigation unit by performing a variety of clerical and administrative tasks. The central duties and responsibilities shall include, however not be limited to, data entry, electronic messaging and phone calls, sorting and organizing of files physically as well as electronically, constructing letters and report’s, managing calendars and scheduling training or other events and performing other related duties as assigned.
The Administrative Assistant will be working with other company Administrative Assistants. The criminal investigation unit is currently comprised of the supervising investigator, six criminal investigators and two administrative assistants. This position is a direct of the supervising investigator but may take direction from other deputy or senior administrators.
Required Skills / Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrative interpersonal and customer service skills, comprehensive organizational skills with attention to detail, superb time management abilities as well as a proven ability to meet deadlines.
Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent required. Two years or more of office experience preferred. Experience using Microsoft 365 (Teams, One Note, Sharepoint, etc), including excel spreadsheets necessary. Legal background is beneficial with experience in the field of criminal law being desirable.
Additional Notes
The Assigned Counsel Program is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.