Staff Attorney, Illinois Innocence Project-3 Vacancies

Posting Category: E

About UIS: Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves more than 4,000 students in 44 graduate and 56 undergraduate programs. You are encouraged to visit the university web page at http://www.uis.edu .

Application deadline: Open Until Filled

Minimum Starting Salary: $75,000 annually

Summary:

Reporting to the Legal Director of the Illinois Innocence Project, the Staff Attorney will direct case representation including file and case reviews, investigations, work with experts, and litigation on behalf of clients. The Staff Attorney will be part of a team working on actual innocence cases in the state of Illinois.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist the IIP legal team in the management of case investigative efforts, including following up on case reviews and selection; interviewing and visiting inmates and witnesses; retrieving and analyzing pertinent case information; and working with and reviewing the work product of student interns.
• Take necessary legal actions on behalf of clients, such as the drafting of motions and other legal documents to be submitted to the court and appearing in court on behalf of clients.
• Develop case legal strategies and reassess strategies as needed.
• Participate in case review and case selection with IIP staff and cooperating faculty and students.
• Recruit and/or collaborate with private attorneys to assist with casework and client representation, where necessary and/or desirable.
• Give Wrongful Conviction Training presentations to Illinois police cadets with the Wrongful Conviction Awareness & Avoidance Director and exoneree speakers.
• Make public and private presentations about the work of the Illinois Innocence Project.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois
• Experience in (or demonstrated knowledge of and/or keen interest in) post-conviction and wrongful conviction law
• Prior experience working within an innocence organization as staff, student, or volunteer, or a demonstrated interest in and commitment to issues of wrongful conviction
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in criminal defense, particularly in serious felonies
• Proven track record of success in a remote work environment
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Ability to participate productively on multi-disciplinary project teams made up of faculty, staff, undergraduate and law students, attorneys, criminal investigators, and experts.

Strong interpersonal skills and evidence of ability to deal with external constituencies.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ability and willingness to travel (with a valid driver's license) frequently within Illinois and occasionally out of state.

Ability and willingness to travel to the Ilinois Innocence Project office at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Physical Demands:

• Sitting : Frequently
• Talking : Frequently
• Hearing : Frequently
  
  

Working Conditions:

• Temperature Change : Occasionally
• Atmospheric Conditions : Occasionally
  
  

Travel Requirements:

40% Frequent travel to courthouses, prisons, and other venues to conduct casework, investigations, and presentation within the state of Illinois. Some out-of-state travel may happen occasionally.

Employment Policies and other information:

UIS is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive campus community. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility .

The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law.

UIS employees are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccination available as a barrier to serious illness.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current or former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment .

UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State University Retirement System.

• You will not pay Social Security taxes and your earning will not be on your Social Security Record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages.
• Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your:
• Social Security benefit and
• Social Security benefit as a spouse
  
  

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted by contacting UIS HR at [email protected] or call 217-206-6652.