Serving Clients in the Second Circuit and the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
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Trial Attorneys
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Trial Attorneys
Please note, we are currently hiring in both our Eastern and Southern District offices. Scroll below for each posting.
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Job Announcement for: Trial Attorney, Eastern District
Posted: Feb 9, 2026
Application Deadline: March 2, 2026
Salary Range: $106,689 to $197,100 annually
Federal Defenders of New York (FDNY) is seeking applicants for a Trial Attorney position in the Eastern District of New York, located in our Brooklyn office. The candidate selected for this role will occasionally travel to our other office located in Central Islip, as well as to our Southern District of New York (SDNY) offices, located in Manhattan and White Plains.
Our Organization
FDNY is a nonprofit, community defender organization that provides legal representation to indigent persons accused of federal crimes in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. We are not a government agency, and our employees are not government employees. Our mission is straightforward: although we provide our services free of cost, our clients should receive the finest legal representation available at any price. A large part of our caseload involves immigration-related offenses, drugs, fraud, bank robbery, firearms, and internet-related crimes. We are looking for someone who is committed to equal justice and willing to fight vigorously for those accused of committing crimes.
Duties and Responsibilities
As a Trial Attorney, you will work as a part of a legal team, including investigators, paralegals, social workers and administrative support staff to represent and support clients accused of federal crimes at every stage of their case through all phases of litigation.
Although the pace of your days will vary, as a trial attorney you will be able to leverage the experience and expertise of additional attorneys across FDNY. You will also frequently collaborate with and attend trainings and conferences with FDNY staff in the Manhattan and White Plains locations as well.
Qualifications & Experience
Demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the mission of FDNY.
Values camaraderie, collaboration, and zealous client advocacy.
Possesses courtroom experience including suppression hearings and oral arguments.
Displays proficiency in legal research, analysis, and legal writing.
Is a self-starter who is comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, and able to navigate shifting demands when urgent legal needs arise.
Has a thorough understanding of Microsoft Systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Lexis Nexis, Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw.
Has a minimum of two years of legal experience post J.D., with a focus on criminal defense, litigation, and trial experience in federal or state court.
Is a licensed and active member in good standing of the New York State Bar or, upon hire gains admission to practice in New York State.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrates fluency or professional proficiency in Spanish and other languages.
Has experience with PACER and tools such as Cellebrite.
Benefits & Salary
The salary range for this position is $106,689 to $197,100. This range is consistent with the federal pay-scale and is commensurate with the experience of the candidate.
Additionally, FDNY offers the following employer benefits:
Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
Federal paid holidays
Health benefits, including medical/dental/vision coverage
Group Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Commuter benefits & 403(b) retirement offerings
Employee Assistance Program
Legal training & workshops for CLE credit
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, as FDNY is dedicated to promoting a work environment that supports and respects all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability. Our office is committed to building a workplace that embraces different identities, voices, and worldviews—valuing equity and the richness of varied lived experiences.
Interested Applicants
Qualified candidates who are interested in contributing to this work are encouraged to apply by submitting a single pdf document that includes their one-page cover letter, resume, and two writing samples.
Please address all materials to Tamara Giwa, Executive Director via Airtable. The combined PDF file should be formatted as: FirstName LastName—EDNY Trial Attorney Application Materials.
Hiring Timeline
We value transparency in our hiring process and want applicants to know what to expect. Below are estimates of our key dates:
Application Deadline: March 2, 2026; Application review will occur on a rolling basis until the role is filled. The receipt of application materials will not be confirmed by FDNY.
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted in-person or virtually via Zoom and/or Microsoft Teams. Please note that only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
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Job Announcement for: Trial Attorney, Southern District
Posted: Feb 9, 2026
Application Deadline: March 2, 2026
Salary Range: $106,689 to $197,100 annually
Federal Defenders of New York (FDNY) is seeking applicants for a Trial Attorney position in the Southern District of New York, located in our Manhattan office. The candidate selected for this role will occasionally travel to our other office located in White Plains, as well as to our Eastern District of New York (EDNY) offices, located in Brooklyn and Central Islip.
Our Organization
FDNY is a nonprofit, community defender organization that provides legal representation to indigent persons accused of federal crimes in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. We are not a government agency, and our employees are not government employees. Our mission is straightforward: although we provide our services free of cost, our clients should receive the finest legal representation available at any price. A large part of our caseload involves immigration-related offenses, drugs, fraud, bank robbery, firearms, and internet-related crimes. We are looking for someone who is committed to equal justice and willing to fight vigorously for those accused of committing crimes.
Duties and Responsibilities
As a Trial Attorney, you will work as a part of a legal team, including investigators, paralegals, social workers and administrative support staff to represent and support clients accused of federal crimes at every stage of their case through all phases of litigation, from arrests through trial and sentencing.
Although the pace of your day will vary, as a trial attorney you will be able to leverage the experience and expertise of additional attorneys across FDNY. You will also frequently collaborate with and attend trainings and conferences with FDNY staff in the Manhattan and White Plains locations as well.
Qualifications & Experience
Demonstrates an interest in and commitment to the mission of FDNY.
Values camaraderie, collaboration, and zealous client advocacy.
Possesses courtroom experience including suppression hearings and oral arguments.
Displays proficiency in legal research, analysis, and legal writing.
Is a self-starter who is comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, and able to navigate shifting demands when urgent legal needs arise.
Has a thorough understanding of Microsoft Systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Lexis Nexis, Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw.
Has a minimum of two years of legal experience post J.D., with a focus on criminal defense, litigation, and trial experience in federal or state court.
Is a licensed and active member in good standing of the New York State Bar or, upon hire gains admission to practice in New York State.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrates fluency or professional proficiency in Spanish.
Has experience with PACER and tools such as Cellebrite.
Benefits & Salary
The salary range for this position is $106,689 to $197,100. This range is consistent with the federal pay-scale and is commensurate with the experience of the candidate.
Additionally, FDNY offers the following employer benefits:
Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
Federal paid holidays
Health benefits, including medical/dental/vision coverage
Group Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Commuter benefits & 403(b) retirement offerings
Employee Assistance Program
Legal training & workshops for CLE credit
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, as FDNY is dedicated to promoting a work environment that supports and respects all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability. Our office is committed to building a workplace that embraces different identities, voices, and worldviews—valuing equity and the richness of varied lived experiences.
Interested Applicants
Qualified candidates who are interested in contributing to this work are encouraged to apply by submitting a single pdf document that includes their one-page cover letter, resume, and two writing samples.
Please address all materials to Tamara Giwa, Executive Director via Airtable. The combined PDF file should be formatted as: FirstName LastName—SDNY Trial Attorney Application Materials.
Hiring Timeline
We value transparency in our hiring process and want applicants to know what to expect. Below are estimates of our key dates:
Application Deadline: March 2, 2026; Application review will occur on a rolling basis until the role is filled. The receipt of application materials will not be confirmed by FDNY.
Interviews: Interviews will be conducted in-person or virtually via Zoom and/or Microsoft Teams. Please note that only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.