Trial Attorney (Federal Capital Case - Remote)

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania is accepting applications for trial counsel in a federal capital case. This position is fully remote, and candidates may reside anywhere in the United States. It is open to full-time or part-time work.

This is a term appointment expected to last for the duration of the case. Trial counsel will represent a client facing the federal death penalty as a member of a capital defense team that includes co-counsel, investigators,

Qualifications

• Experience handling capital cases preferred.
• Strong research and writing skills required.
• Must be able to work with a multidisciplinary defense team.

Responsibilities

• Represent client in capital case at trial and appellate levels as part of a defense team.
• Digest voluminous discovery including forensic evidence (DNA, fingerprints, digital data).
• Develop guilt-phase and penalty-phase strategies; litigate evidentiary motions and voir dire.

Skills

Capital defense

Forensic litigation

Legal research

Trial strategy

Education

JD or equivalent

Job description

Position Description

The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania is accepting applications for trial counsel in a federal capital case. This position is fully remote, and candidates may reside anywhere in the United States. It is open to full-time or part-time work. This is a term appointment expected to last for the duration of the case.

Trial counsel will represent a client facing the federal death penalty as a member of a capital defense team that includes co-counsel, investigators, mitigation specialists, paralegals, and experts. Regular responsibilities include building and maintaining a relationship of trust with the client; digesting voluminous discovery, including forensic evidence such as DNA, fingerprint, digital and cell-site, and medical examiner findings; developing the guilt-phase and penalty-phase strategy; supervising the fact and mitigation investigation; researching and drafting pretrial, evidentiary, and constitutional motions, including challenges to the reliability and admissibility of the government’s forensic evidence under Rule 702; retaining and working with defense forensic, mental health, and other experts; litigating evidentiary hearings; conducting capital voir dire; and trying both phases of the case to a jury if required. Representation must meet the standards of the ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases.

A strong preference will be given to candidates with prior federal capital trial experience. We are especially interested in candidates who bring expertise in areas such as forensic science litigation, mental health and intellectual disability litigation, and capital jury selection. Excellent research and writing skills are required.