Description:
Company 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.
