Squire Patton Boggs (U.S.) LLP ("SPB") and the SPB Public
Service Initiative Team (the "PSI Team") hereby announce the
launch of a Public Service Initiative Fellowship (the
"Fellowship"), a six-month paid position offered to a
qualified attorney.
Over the course of this Fellowship, the PSI Fellow will work
full-time with our globally recognized PSI Team on a number of
criminal justice-focused pro bono matters.
About Us
With lawyers, public policy advisors and a talented team of
professionals spanning more than 40 offices across four continents,
SPB has one of the legal industry's broadest international platforms.
SPB also has a long-standing commitment topro bonoservices that
promote equal justice and support those with limited resources.
The PSI Team, which was founded 15 years ago and sits in our New York
office, is a reflection of the firm's steadfast pro bono commitment.
PSI Team members work full-time providing free legal services to
indigent people, most of whom are incarcerated, whose cases present
egregious miscarriages of justice. The PSI Team is a friendly and
collegial practice group dedicated to handling the most challenging
constitutional criminal justice issues including, for example, death
penalty, juvenile resentencing, and wrongful conviction cases.
Representative examples of the PSI Team's recent successes include:
Litigating the federal habeas claims of a client on Alabama's
death row, where the district court recently ruled that he has made
a sufficient showing (based on exculpating DNA and other evidence),
of actual innocence as to overcome procedural bars to relief;
Litigating the federal habeas claims of a client who was
originally sentenced to Arkansas's death row, where the magistrate
judge recently issued a report and recommendation that the client's
conviction should be overturned based on racial discrimination in
jury selection;
Winning state postconviction relief for two clients who had
already served 24 years and 39 years of life sentences, which will
result in their release before the end of this year.
Fellowship Program
This is a six-month program, beginning December 1, 2024. The PSI
Fellow will work closely with the PSI Team on a current docket of
capital and postconviction cases in the South. The PSI Fellow will
have the opportunity to gain valuable, broad-ranging, and intensive
public service experience in the criminal justice sector. The Fellow
will thereby develop skills that will make them more competitive for
long-term employment within that field.
The responsibilities of this role will include developing litigation
strategy and delivering work product which executes on that strategy
for cases you are assigned; and communicating on a timely and diligent
basis with various stakeholders including, for example, clients, the
family of clients, external co-counsel, other PSI Team members, and
opposing counsel.
The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours of work
per week to be performed in-office/remotely, plus evening and weekend
work as needed. Travel to visit clients, investigate cases, and
appear in court as expected is required. While it isn't possible to
predict with certainty, trips are usually brief (1 to 2 days), and may
be required once or twice a month.
This Fellowship is a short-term temporary assignment.
Compensation for this role is highly competitive, and will range
between $80 and $100k for the 6-month term (equivalent to $160,000 -
$200,000 annually), commensurate with experience.SPB also offers
excellent benefits packages, with options for individual health,
dental and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings
accounts, and transportation benefits.
The PSI Team is based in the firm's New York City office, and the
ideal candidate would be based either in SPB's New York or Washington
D.C office. The PSI Team currently operates on a hybrid
in-office/remote basis, with an expectation that two- three days a
week will be spent in-office. However, other arrangements may be
considered (including for candidates who are based in Southeastern
cities, or any city where PSI clients are already located).
Academic and Professional Qualifications
A juris doctorate degree from an ABA-approved law school is required.
Active and in good-standing state bar membership is required.
A record of outstanding academic and/or professional achievement
is required; preference will be given to candidates who graduated in
the top 10% of class, who maintained a GPA of 3.5 and above, or who
have comparable academic honors.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
The ideal candidate will be a mid-level litigation attorney with at
least five years of experience and a demonstrated interest in public
interest/criminal justice work, alongside:
Strong legal research, writing, and advocacy skills, as well as an
ability to construct cogent legal arguments, are required.
An ability to travel (PSI Team cases typically are in the American
South including, for example, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana,
and Texas), and a valid driver's license, are required.
A demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity within workplace
and/or academic settings is preferred; an appreciation for
differences with regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and
expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and
socio-economic circumstance is required.
Familiarity with habeas corpus doctrines is a plus.
Judicial clerkship experience is a plus.
English language skills are required. Additional language skills
are welcomed.
All candidates must be already legally authorized to work in the U.S.
How to Apply
Please apply online by November 8th, 2024 to be
considered for this position. Resumes should be accompanied by recent
writing samples for which you are the principal author - eg. excerpt
of legal brief, motion, article or blog post (5-10 pages)) - and a
cover letter explaining your interest in this role and how this role
would fit into your longer-term career goals.
Squire Patton Boggs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, age, religion or creed,
sex, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender
identity, disability, veteran status, or any other condition
protected by applicable law. This non-discrimination policy applies
to all aspects of employment.
