Staff Attorney Position at the Innocence Project - New York, NY

[Erika Lago]

Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation Department

 
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University to assist the wrongly convicted who could be proven innocent through DNA testing. The Innocence Project's groundbreaking use of DNA technology to free innocent people has provided irrefutable proof that wrongful convictions are not isolated or rare events but instead arise from systemic defects. Now an independent nonprofit organization closely affiliated with Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the Innocence Project's mission is to free the staggering numbers of innocent people who remain incarcerated and to bring substantive reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment. To learn more, please visit www.innocenceproject.org.

 

JOB SUMMARY:

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 reports to the Director of Strategic Litigation.  The department is currently composed of a Director, three staff attorneys, and two paralegals.  Staff attorneys collaborate with each other as well as staff in the Legal, Policy and Science & Research Departments.  The staff attorney hired to fill this position will work primarily on the Innocence Project’s eyewitness identification and interrogation/false confession law reform initiatives.  This is a full-time position and requires travel. 

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

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

• Amicus curiae briefs in state and federal court, including the United States Supreme Court. 
• Consulting work with defense counsel at pre-trial, appellate and post-conviction litigation on strategy in criminal cases, including drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs.
• Conducting legal research and analysis.
• Evaluating social science 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:

·         Between 4 -10 years litigation, appellate and/or clerkship experience required.

• Criminal justice, indigent defense or related civil rights experience required.  Applicants with experience in related impact litigation are also encouraged to apply. 
• Experience with and the ability to understand, summarize and translate complex research for a lay audience preferred. 
• Public speaking experience strongly preferred.

• Academic background in social or natural sciences are encouraged to apply.

 

KEY COMPETENCIES:

·         Outstanding interpersonal and verbal communication skills.

·         Comfort and enthusiasm for public speaking.

·         Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple competing demands.

·         Excellent analytic and writing skills, and ability to construct cogent arguments.

·         Organizational skills and the ability to prioritize cases.

·         Ability to work with diverse range of people.

·         Enthusiasm for social justice and the work of the Innocence Project, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and criminal justice reform.

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The salary for this position is competitive and the Innocence Project offers an excellent benefits package, including health, dental and vision insurance, Flexible Spending Account, 401k plan with company-match, and paid Transitcheks.

 

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. 

 

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 Paycom. Upload your cover letter and resume as (last name. first name. cover letter/resume).  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.

 

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