Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation

Innocence Project

New York, new york

Job Details

Full-time

1/22/2025

Full Job Description

ABOUT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT

The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Our work is guided by science and grounded in anti-racism. Since our inception, the Innocence Project has used DNA and other scientific advancements to prove wrongful conviction. To date, we have helped to free or exonerate more than 200 people who, collectively, spent more than 3,600 years behind bars. Our efforts have led to the passage of more than 200 transformative state laws and federal reforms. Today, the Innocence Project continues to fight for freedom, drive structural change, and advance the innocence movement. To learn more, please visit www.innocenceproject.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Strategic Litigation Department’s goal is to reduce courts reliance on faulty and unreliable evidence. Focusing on the leading causes of wrongful convictions, the team litigates in the areas of forensic science, eyewitness identification, and unreliable confessions.

The Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation will be responsible for being a leader in the Innocence Project’s litigation in forensic sciences. They will work extensively with public defenders and defense counsel across the country, both on individual cases and broader litigation goals, and with leading scientists working in relevant fields to advance litigation goals. In addition, the attorney will train and speak about these litigation related reform efforts around the country. The Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation will monitor and identify emerging technologies and new forensic disciplines for validity, reliability, and racial bias issues and develop new litigation strategies to mitigate the proliferation of harmful new law enforcement tools. This work involves close interdepartmental collaboration, as well as collaboration with the Post-Conviction Litigation, Policy and Data Science & Research Departments, and with the Special Advisor on Race and Wrongful Conviction at the Innocence Project.

The Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation reports to the Director of Strategic Litigation. This is a full time position and requires travel.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas and we are not an e-verify employer.

The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours of work per week to be performed virtually/in-office. We currently have a hybrid in-office model, with all employees in the office three days per week and the remainder of the week remotely. Wednesday is our organization’s “anchor day” where all staff works in the office. The number of required in-office days is subject to change.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a passionate and skilled litigator with a deep commitment to social justice and reforming the criminal legal system. They possess exceptional research, writing, and advocacy skills, with at least five years of litigation experience, including appellate or post-conviction work. With a proven ability to understand and incorporate complex scientific research into legal arguments, the candidate excels at crafting compelling strategies to challenge unreliable evidence and to advance criminal legal reform.

In addition, all Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect and value the rich diversity of perspectives and experience of a diverse and heterogeneous staff. We recognize and appreciate that our work is better for having varied participants and thought partners. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in this type of environment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The staff attorney engages in all aspects of litigation and advocacy, which include:

Pre-trial, appellate and post-conviction litigation of criminal cases, including drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs, as well as frequent amicus curiae briefs
Drafting and filing amicus curiae briefs in state and federal court, including the United States Supreme Court
Consulting with defense counsel at pre-trial, appellate and post-conviction litigation on strategy in criminal cases, including drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs
Evaluating scientific research and incorporating scientific research into legal arguments
Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims
Assisting with the development of national litigation strategies
Preparing reports, training and advocacy materials
Conducting trainings and making presentations
Providing support and assistance to Innocence Project network affiliates and cooperating attorneys

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Must have a J.D. and be admitted to the Bar in at least one state
Must have at least five (5) years of litigation, appellate and/or clerkship experience
NOTE: attorneys with at ten (10) years of relevant experience will be considered for a Senior Staff Attorney position
Experience with and the ability to understand, summarize and translate complex research for a lay audience
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

At least five (5) years of experience in criminal justice or related civil rights fields
Experience working with racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities
Experience developing and delivering presentations to various non-academic audiences
Experience incorporating social or natural sciences in legal research and/or case litigation
Ability to travel approximately 10% of time

KEY COMPETENCIES + VALUES

Exceptional research, writing, and courtroom skills, including trial and appellate advocacy
Effectively scans the landscape for relevant information then breaks down complex problems into simple and manageable components
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing demands
Embodies strong organizational and planning skills that entails prioritizing key components of a task while maintaining quality of work and attention to details
Commitment to social justice and public interest law, and an interest in leveraging the Innocence Project’s work exonerating the wrongfully convicted towards broader criminal justice reform
Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest
Shared commitment to the IP’s values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS & PERKS

The salary for this position is highly competitive and the Innocence Project offers an excellent benefits package, including fully-paid individual health, dental and vision insurance, Flexible Spending Account, 401k plan with 6% company-match, paid disability and family care leave, adoption and fertility expense reimbursements, and company-paid transportation benefits.

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The Innocence Project considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization’s success in meeting its mission. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. Individuals with personal connections to the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is our policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

To apply, please visit our career page. Upload a cover letter expressing your interest in the role and the organization’s work, and a resume titled with your name in this format (last name_first name_cover letter/resume). Only applications with cover letters will be considered complete applications. Information submitted through this secure site is kept confidential. Due to the large volume of applications, we are unable to give applicant updates by phone or direct email.

**Applications for this position will be considered on a rolling basis until the post is filled.**

SALARY RANGE

$111,626+ Salary commensurate with experience

Requirements