Civil Service Title: Staff Attorney
Salary Range: $69,428 – $91,545
Agency: Police Accountability Board
Division: Investigations
Openings: Eight (8)
Location: Rochester, NY
Accepting Applications on: October 1, 2021
Posting Close: October 29, 2021
Where You Will Work
The Police Accountability Board is an independent agency within the City of Rochester charged with overseeing and reimagining Rochester’s policing system. The Board investigates potential wrongdoing by Rochester police officers, brings change and transparency to the Rochester Police Department, and educates and engages community members in the work of reimagining public safety. The Board is committed to performing these tasks in a workplace defined by accountability, equity, transparency. The Board’s headquarters are located in Rochester’s downtown core.
What You Will Do
Staff Attorneys hired by the Board will serve on assignment in the Board’s Division of Investigations, where they will investigate and address instances of potential officer wrongdoing. Staff Attorneys will look for violations of civil law, criminal law, and policy & procedure. Staff Attorneys will interview police officers and members of the public during their investigations while compiling and examining physical and forensic evidence. Staff Attorneys will be responsible for drafting and presenting investigative reports that propose charges regarding (and remedies for) wrongdoing. Staff Attorneys may also be required to participate in legal or administrative proceedings. Staff Attorneys may also end up serving on assignment in the Board’s Executive Office, where they provide the Board with general legal services or the Board’s Division of Policy & Oversight, where they conduct oversight investigations and create policies and proposals to change Rochester’s public safety system. Occasional participation in PAB community efforts as and when required. Flexibility to work occasional nights and weekends as needed.
Who We Are Looking To Hire
Staff Attorneys serve as the core of the Board’s work. As such, we are looking for candidates with exceptional commitment to our community and our mission. The ideal candidate is someone with experience in civil rights law, administrative law, municipal law, and/or criminal law. We welcome applicants from public defender’s offices, state attorney general’s offices, and legal aid organizations, as well as recent law school graduates. Experience serving communities in Rochester is a plus, as is membership in local bar associations (including, but not limited to, the Rochester Black Bar Association, the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys).
The Board is looking to hire people that reflect the diversity of Rochester and are committed to our community and our mission. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the Board strongly encourages people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, and gender non-conforming persons to apply. All applicants will be considered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, age, prior record of arrest; or any other basis prohibited by law.
Benefits You Will Receive
The City of Rochester offers the Board’s full-time employees a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance. This package may include a premium- and deductible-free health insurance plan from MVP Health Care. Board employees receive generous vacation, holiday and sick leave benefits in the context of a flexible, supportive work environment. Employees can also receive up to $6,000 toward the purchase of a home in Rochester, up to $3,000 in annual tuition assistance, and reimbursement for certain transit costs.
In addition to this standard benefits package, employees in this position will undergo extensive training in oversight, policing, and public safety reform. Moreover, working in this position can qualify employees for student loan forgiveness through the federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. To learn more, visit the Program’s website HERE.
Qualifications & Additional Requirements
To qualify for this position, you must have (at minimum) graduated from a law school of recognized standing and admittance to practice in New York State.
If hired for this position, employees will have one year to move within the City of Rochester. Continued residency in the City is required throughout the employee’s tenure.
How To Apply & Submit A Resume/Cover Letter
If you are interested in applying, we strongly encourage you to submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. This position will be officially posted on the City of Rochester’s jobs portal (located HERE) on Friday, October 1, 2021 under its Civil Service Title of “Staff Attorney.” To apply, you will have to create an account through the jobs portal and complete an employment profile. If you need help navigating the City’s jobs portal or have questions about this posting, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at 585-428-9627.
