Job Description

Senior Staff Attorney, Post Conviction Litigation

Our client, a non-profit working to free the innocent, to prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice, is seeking a Senior Staff Attorney to join the Post Conviction Litigation team. To date, they have helped to free or exonerate more than 200 people and have led to the passage of more than 200 transformative state laws and federal reforms.

Staff Attorneys represent clients seeking to prove their innocence and obtain relief from wrongful conviction through post-conviction DNA testing and other new non-DNA evidence of innocence. Staff Attorneys reinvestigate actual innocence, working with a wide range of forensic and other experts and investigators, and litigate at trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts around the country. The claims raised by Staff Attorneys include ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, false evidence, incentivized testimony, and newly discovered evidence.

Job Responsibilities

● Manage docket of cases for individuals seeking relief from wrongful conviction

● Craft litigation strategy

● Lead litigation teams, including with pro-bono partners, local counsel, fellows, and law students

● Direct factual post-conviction investigations

● Write motions and briefs in connection with client representation, as well as amicus curie briefs

● Litigate issues related to obtaining evidence and conducting forensic and other testing of that evidence

● Work with experts when appropriate, including preparing and presenting their affidavits and testimony

● Conduct evidentiary hearings and make other court appearances

● Represent clients facing retrial after vacatur of conviction

● Conduct oral argument before trial and appellate courts

● Help teach the legal clinic and supervise law students

● Supervise paralegals, fellows, and interns

● Work with social workers, and assist with post-release planning for exonerated clients

● Creating department-wide trainings, including skill-based trainings

● Taking part in research related to issues relevant to the entire department

Qualifications

● Minimum of twelve years of litigation experience (with at least five years of post-conviction expertise)

● Advanced knowledge of DNA and/or other forensic disciplines preferred

● A demonstrated and abiding commitment to social justice

● Bilingual (Spanish) is a plus

● Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

● Bar admission in one or more states

Work Environment:

• The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours of work per week to be performed virtually/in-office.
• Hybrid in-office model, with all employees in the office three days per week and two days remote. (Wednesday is in office for the organization).

SALARY RANGE

$177,821 (12 years’ experience) - $197,355 (20 years’ experience) with at least 5 years post-conviction experience

Compensation will be based on the number of years since receiving Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

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