Assistant District Attorney- Conviction Integrity Unit

The company name is "The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office".; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage

Annual paid time off (PTO)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PFLF) Program qualified employer

Job summary

A major prosecutor’s office is seeking experienced attorneys for the Assistant District Attorney role within its Conviction Integrity Unit. This position involves reinvestigating claims of actual innocence and wrongful convictions, requiring a deep commitment to justice and strong legal skills. Applicants must have over 5 years of legal experience, be admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, and possess excellent writing and research skills. This role provides a supportive benefits package and a commitment to public service.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania.
• 5+ years of legal experience required.
• Commitment to anti-corruption work is necessary.
• Must have experience with violent crime cases.
• Strong preference for experience with cold cases.

Responsibilities

• Obtain and review court and law enforcement records.
• Interview witnesses and relevant parties.
• Oversee DNA and forensic testing.
• Write detailed investigation memoranda.
• Collaborate with defense counsel on innocence cases.

Skills

Legal experience

Research skills

Attention to detail

Writing skills

Courtroom experience

Experience with forensic science

Initiative

Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school

Job description

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives and support staff. Our Assistant District Attorneys are dedicated to public service, public safety, and justice for all involved in the criminal justice system.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in particular is committed to several citywide collaborations aimed at reducing Philadelphia’s jail population and improving the criminal justice system overall.

**Please note that effective September 1, 2021, the City of Philadelphia requires all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. **

To attain a job with the city, you must be a city of Philadelphia resident within 6 months (180 days) of hire and able to work completely in the office.

Job Summary

The District Attorney’s Office is seeking experienced attorneys to work as assistant district attorneys in its Conviction Integrity Unit (“CIU”). Following best practices established in this expanding field, the CIU reinvestigates and resolves credible claims of actual innocence or wrongful conviction arising out of past convictions. The CIU also reviews pardon and commutation applications.

Essential Functions

• Obtaining and reviewing voluminous court records, law enforcement documents, and all other documents connected with or relevant to a criminal prosecution.
• Interviewing witnesses, attorneys, convicted persons, relevant experts and police officers.
• Overseeing DNA and other forensic testing.
• Writing detailed memoranda and pleadings relating to the investigation.
• Working with defense counsel and the community in resolving cases of actual innocence or other wrongful conviction.

Qualifications

• All candidates must be admitted to practice law in the State of Pennsylvania.
• Candidates must have 5 or more years of legal experience following graduation from an accredited law school.
• A commitment to anti-corruption work is a must.
• Candidates must be highly motivated researchers, comfortable with document-driven cases that can take months or years to build.
• Candidates should have a track record of investigating and/or litigating cases involving violent crime – preference will be given to candidates who also have experience with forensic science specifically including the use of DNA. This experience can be as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, innocence organization attorney or other applicable area of practice concerning criminal law in any jurisdiction.
• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail are required.
• Candidates should have courtroom experience in trials or other evidentiary proceedings involving serious felonies, preferably homicides.
• Strong preference for candidates who have experience investigating or prosecuting cold cases and/or litigating fact-based post-conviction proceedings. experience handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases as a lawyer or in an advocacy setting is a plus.
• Candidate must be able to manage a complex litigation caseload.
• Candidate must be able to take initiative and be self-directed on non-deadline-oriented investigations.
• Ability to work directly with County Detectives and other ADAs to build a case is required.

This is an exempt employee with the City of Philadelphia. Immediately upon assuming office, new hire will receive benefits similar to those of other City of Philadelphia employees, including the below benefits:

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PFLF) Program qualified employer
• We offer comprehensive health coverage (medical, vision, prescription and dental) for employees and their eligible dependents
• Annual paid time off (PTO) package: 20 vacation days, 15 sick leave days, 11 paid holidays, 5 annual administrative leave
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Before tax commuter program
• Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Sick leave bonuses and exchanges
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Applications will be active for one year from the date of receipt by the Office.

All exempt employees of the District Attorney’s Office are at-will employees and serve at the pleasure of the District Attorney. The at-will relationship shall not be modified for any employee and no agreement, oral or written, shall be entered into that changes the at-will relationship.

** The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. **