Lead Counsel , CSJ

The Center for Social Justice is a new center based at Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana that provides capital appellate and post-conviction representation to indigent people on Louisiana’s death row, as well as juveniles facing sentences of life without parole. CSJ provides high-quality representation to a full caseload of clients in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana, with the assistance of students at Loyola. CSJ attorneys, formerly of the Capital Appeals Project, have successfully represented clients in state district courts, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court, which in turn has dramatically improved the quality and standards of representation for indigent capital defendants in Louisiana and throughout the Deep South. With the new center, CSJ will train new capital defense attorneys and continue providing excellent client-centered representation in our cases.

• Provide supervision, mentorship and guidance to staff attorneys, mitigation specialists, and investigators, as well as student practitioners.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise of interns and volunteers.
• Communicate effectively with clients, family members, experts of all kinds, witnesses, colleagues, office staff and court personnel.
• The Lead Counsel is responsible for maintaining entire team’s compliance with LPDB and ABA Guidelines and Performance Standards.
• Stay qualified as such under the state capital guidelines, and expected to act as first chair on their capital teams.
• The Lead Counsel has the ultimate responsibility for case strategy, client relationship, decision-making, performance of the team, and direction of litigation in their cases.
• Other duties as assigned.

• A graduate of an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana, or must become licensed at the earliest opportunity after hiring.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience in the direct representation of criminal defendants.
•  Minimum five years of capital defense experience.
• Qualified to serve as lead appellate and post-conviction counsel, which involves at least 5 years of experience, along with other experience-based qualifications. For more about the Louisiana Public Defender guidelines see here.
• Familiarity with national and state capital defense best practice standards.
• Minimum 1 year experience training and supervising other attorneys and/or investigators.
• A commitment to working with diverse populations and centering the humanity of all of our clients and their family members, as well as a commitment to anti-racism.
• Highly organized and self-directed.
• Strong legal research, legal analysis and writing skills.
• Ability to analyze complex legal records and issues.
• Perform detailed and complex legal research.
• Draft motions, memoranda, briefs, appeals and petitions for writs of certiorari.
• An established capacity to complete assignments timely.
• An established capacity to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Have a track record of leading highly motivated, effective, and united teams and an ability to inspire and focus teams, navigate complex issues, and make difficult decisions.

• Ability to perform the job duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

In accordance with the Campus Security Act as amended, Loyola University publishes annually and distributes to members of the academic community, and upon request to prospective (students/employees), an annual security report.  That report includes current policies and procedures of the University Police Department for the reporting of campus crimes, notifying the campus community of occurrence of campus crimes, policies regarding access to campus buildings, the enforcement authority of the University Police Officers and their relationship to local police.  University policies on the possession, use and sale of alcohol and illegal drugs are outlined. The Campus sexual Assault Program and policy is described.  Campus crime statistics as defined under this law for the last three calendar years are included.  A copy of this report may be secured from the (Office of Admissions), (Office of Human Resources), or from the University Police Department. 

Loyola University New Orleans does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran's status or national origin in its educational programs or activities, including employment and admissions. At the same time, Loyola cherishes its right to seek and retain personnel who will make a positive contribution to its religious character, goals, and mission in order to enhance the Jesuit, Catholic tradition.