Staff Attorney with The Pennsylvania Innocence Project

Staff Attorney

Job Description
 

Locations: Duquesne University, Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education, 912 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA and Temple University Center City, 1515 Market Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA (main office)

Mission: The Pennsylvania Innocence Project is a non-profit, public interest law firm. Our mission is to exonerate those convicted of crimes they did not commit, to prevent innocent people from being prosecuted and convicted, and to help those wrongfully convicted transition to freedom. Learn more about the Pennsylvania Innocence Project at https://painnocence.org/.

Position Summary: The Pennsylvania Innocence Project is seeking a highly organized and self-driven Staff Attorney to join its legal team. The Staff Attorney will work with, and be supervised by, the Executive Director, Legal Director, and Deputy Legal Director based in the Project’s Pittsburgh Office (“Supervisors”). The Staff Attorney will take part in the investigation and litigation of cases at both trial and appellate levels. The Staff Attorney will assist their supervisors with supervision of law students enrolled in clinical programs with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Some travel and evening and weekend work is required. The Staff Attorney will be based preferably in the Pittsburgh office, but will support case work in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania. The position will be available in October/November 2025.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree and admission to the Pennsylvania bar required, or willingness to immediately take the necessary steps to gain admission in Pennsylvania.
• A minimum of 2 years of post-law school legal experience, but 3-5 years of experience preferred.
• Candidate must be willing to travel throughout Pennsylvania for cases, training, and other job- related activities.
• Interest in criminal law and innocence work with prior experience in post-conviction and appellate litigation preferred.

• Litigation, Investigation, and Case Load: Identify, locate, and interview witnesses; draft and file briefs; communicate with co-counsel; attend court appearances; and visit clients in prison. Some travel is required (between two to ten days per month, usually non-consecutive).
• Volunteer Management and Supervision: Take responsibility for managing volunteer schedules, training volunteer lawyers and law students, answering questions from volunteers, and reviewing volunteer work product.
• Case Review and Development: Review and track cases as they proceed through the Project’s assessment process.
• Law School Internship/Clinical Involvement: Assist Supervisors in supervising interns, including coordinating their schedules and caseloads and reviewing summer internship applications.
• Public Education: Put together training programs for volunteer attorneys and law students, and present continuing legal education programs on topics related to wrongful convictions.

Salary: $65-70,000 depending on level of experience, plus benefits (health and dental insurance, 401k, a generous paid time off policy, and support for professional development, including local and regional training opportunities).

To Apply

• • Cover letter
  • Resumé
  • Writing sample
  • List of three references with contact information

The Pennsylvania Innocence Project is an equal opportunity employer. The Project does not discriminate in the selection of employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.