Staff Attorney - Youth Justice

Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice (Oklahoma Appleseed) is a nonprofit organization that fights for justice and opportunity for all Oklahomans. We take a system-based approach to complex issues – such as criminal justice, education policy, voting access, economic justice – and we take our work wherever we believe we can do the most good, whether that’s in the courthouse, at the Capitol, or in the community.

Oklahoma Appleseed is committed to diversity, inclusion, equity, and dismantling systemic racism that produces inequitable outcomes for communities of color. These foundational values are central to our mission to increase justice and opportunity for all Oklahomans.

Position Description

Oklahoma Appleseed is currently hiring a Youth Justice Staff Attorney with 0-3 years of experience to work under the Legal Director. The Youth Justice Staff Attorney serves a key role in the OK Appleseed legal team by carrying out our mission through litigation, research, investigation, drafting memorandum and legal policy briefs, and supporting the development of legal theories.

The Youth Justice Staff Attorney will have excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills. The Youth Justice Staff Attorney must also be adept at managing up to elevate issues and legal theories that have otherwise not been advanced. Strong interpersonal skills are necessary to assist in policy discussions with non-legal staff at OK Appleseed. The Staff Attorney will report directly to the Legal Director and work in close collaboration with the entire legal department staff. This position is litigation focused, but may include legal analysis and investigation to support non-litigation policy efforts.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE:

• To undertake research, writing and oral advocacy in the areas of criminal justice impact litigation - with a particular focus on juvenile justice.
• To draft pleadings, letters, memorandum of law, briefings for lawyers and lay people alike, and assist in drafting policy briefs.
• To collaborate with non-legal department staff to further the mission and objectives of OK Appleseed’s youth justice initiatives.
• Supporting community organizing staff in coalition building, informing coalition partners on research outcomes, and collaborating to build community power behind research recommendations.
• To benchmark work of other Appleseed centers and assess litigation/issue viability for Oklahoma.
• Any other relevant project work that position has capacity and expertise for that is needed to further the mission of the organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school
• Active Bar License in the State of Oklahoma

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Relevant litigation experience
• Demonstrated ability to distill complicated legal issues into plain language
• Experience coordinating pro bono or community partnerships

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Commitment to excellence and timeliness
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Strong leadership, diplomacy, and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to collaboration within an interdisciplinary team

DESIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Flexibility and ability to adapt and learn new areas of law quickly
• Knowledge of Oklahoma’s legal and policy landscape
• Willingness to push individual knowledge boundaries and specific focus areas and work through the discomfort of not knowing everything all at once.

POSITION DETAILS

This position will report to the Legal Director. Some In-state/out-of-state travel is expected. The salary for this position is $60,000-70,000 plus benefits per year, commensurate with experience.

This position is for a Youth Justice Staff Attorney to assist in all litigation currently pending and litigation yet-forthcoming. However, this position is expected to become an expert on matters of juvenile justice within the criminal justice system and effectively advocate for reform to the juvenile justice system. The focus will be on juvenile delinquency and youthful offender reforms. Juvenile deprived issues are not the focus of this position, though deprived matters may sometimes overlap with delinquent matters.

Oklahoma Appleseed offers competitive pay, paid health, life, dental and vision insurance for full-time employees, a generous paid leave package, as well as retirement matching and flexible hours in an inclusive culture. Oklahoma Appleseed is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, LGBTQ , and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000