Clinical Professor & Legal Director, NCIP

Position Title:

Clinical Professor & Legal Director, NCIP

Position Type:

Regular

Salary Range:

$125,000 - $150,000 / year

Purpose:

A. POSITION PURPOSE

The Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP), a clinical program of Santa Clara University School of Law, seeks a Legal Director to manage all aspects of NCIP’s litigation and case investigation efforts, oversee and teach NCIP’s law clinic, and provide leadership to and oversight of NCIP’s staff attorneys, case manager, legal volunteers, and clinical law students. NCIP’s mission is to promote a fair, effective and compassionate criminal justice system and protect the rights of the innocent. NCIP represents wrongfully convicted Californians in courts of all levels. NCIP reviews hundreds of requests for assistance annually and has helped to free 36 innocent people who collectively spent 550 years in prison. NCIP’s law clinic provides Santa Clara Law students with critical legal skills and helps them develop a commitment to social justice.

The Legal Director is a full-time, renewable term faculty position. The Legal Director reports to the Santa Clara University Law School Dean and will be responsible for 1) Case Litigation and Litigation Oversight, 2) Teaching, Curriculum Development and Student Mentorship, 3) Professional and Public Education, and 4) Organizational Strategy and Development. NCIP strives for diversity among its applicant pool as well as within its staff. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, especially racial, ethnic, gender and sexual orientation minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, and smart people with non-linear/non-traditional experience and educational backgrounds to apply for this position. Most importantly, no matter their background, the person selected for this position must embrace, advocate for, and deeply value equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Case Litigation and Litigation Oversight

• Oversee all aspects of NCIP’s legal team, including all legal staff, research assistants and volunteers and all case work throughout the state

• Oversee and in many cases conduct all aspects of post-conviction investigation and litigation, including but not limited to:

  • negotiating with district attorneys and attorneys general

  • drafting state and federal habeas petitions and motions to vacate as well as other legal pleadings, and

  • conducting evidentiary hearings and oral arguments throughout the state and federal courts in California

• Provide day-to-day supervision of staff attorneys and case manager/intake attorney, including case work and student supervision

• Maintain a limited docket of cases being investigated and/or litigated, as appropriate for the leadership role

• Keep abreast of relevant legal and scientific developments, and ensure that legal staff also is updated on important developments

• Work with Associate Director and Executive Director on budgeting and budget monitoring for the legal team

• Coordinate/respond to requests for legal assistance from other attorneys on post-conviction innocence claims

• Recruit, coordinate, oversee and supervise work of pro bono attorneys and law firms

• Work with civil rights attorneys to seek compensation for those wrongfully convicted and to advance innocence claims as civil rights violations

• Develop relationships with attorneys nationwide working on innocence issues and collaborate with them on issues of particular importance

• Identify, coordinate, oversee and draft amicus efforts in cases raising issues related to innocence work, in state and federal courts

2. Teaching, Curriculum Development and Student Mentorship

• Develop NCIP curriculum and teach Beginning NCIP clinical class, twice weekly, for fall and spring semesters

• Oversee Advanced NCIP students throughout the year

• Oversee the training, supervision and counseling of clinical law students in all aspects of their clinic work, including editing of written work, weekly meetings for case development, and all hearing preparation, including witness preparation and legal research, and certified law student court appearances

• Advance student job opportunities by arranging for students to work with pro bono law firms

• Advise students on job opportunities

• Provide student recommendation to potential employers

3. Professional and Public Education

• Conduct local, statewide and national presentations for professional and community groups rega