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 helping to manage a
caseload of approximately 10-12 cases (not all of which will be active
at the same time); developing litigation strategy and delivering work
product which executes on that strategy; 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. Routine travel to visit clients, investigate cases,
and appear in court as expected is required.
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 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 either in the public interest
sector, or who has worked at a law firm and is now considering a
transition into the public interest sector.
Prior experience in representing criminally charged persons,
and/or representing such clients in appellate/post-conviction
litigation is required.
Familiarity with habeas corpus doctrines is preferred.
Judicial clerkship experience is preferred.
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.
Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills are required.
An ability to work both independently and collaboratively with
others is required.
An ability to timely complete work product with attention to
detail; work with colleagues under pressure; and meet deadlines is required.
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 October 18, 2024 to be considered for this position.
Resumes should be accompanied by two recent writing samples that have
not been significantly edited by someone else - e.g. excerpt of legal
brief, motion, article or blog post (10 pages max. per sample), 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.
