Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation

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 capital cases. 
• 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

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Must have a J.D. and be admitted t