Closing Date: 22nd November, 2026
Description:
Job Summary:The University of Wisconsin Law School seeks applicants for a Staff Attorney position in the Wisconsin Innocence Project (WIP). WIP is a nationally recognized innocence and postconviction clinic in which law students, under faculty supervision, provide legal representation to incarcerated individuals with credible claims of actual innocence and wrongful conviction.
WIP has been awarded grant funding to support a Criminal Justice Forensic Assistance Program that will strengthen the accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness of Wisconsin's criminal justice system through post-conviction forensic case review, analysis, and litigation. This grant will fund a Staff Attorney to provide direct legal services on grant-eligible cases.
Duties may include:
- Carry a full caseload of grant-eligible cases;
- Investigate post-conviction claims of innocence, including reviewing trial and appellate records, engaging with experts, interviewing witnesses, and requesting records;
- Conduct forensic case review and assess the reliability, validity, and significance of forensic evidence presented in criminal cases;
- Identify, develop, and litigate claims involving disputed, emerging, or unreliable forensic evidence;
- Work with forensic experts, laboratories, and other scientific professionals in the investigation and litigation of postconviction claims;
- Litigate post-conviction claims in state and federal court through written and oral advocacy, including evidentiary hearings and expert witness litigation;
- Supervise and mentor law students in all aspects of postconviction investigation and litigation, including case assessment, legal research, factual investigation, drafting, and client representation.
- Work with legal team to craft investigation and litigation strategies;
- Assist in developing training materials and educational programming related to forensic science and wrongful conviction issues;
- Teach or co-teach clinical courses or other classes;
- Ensure compliance with grant, reporting, and programmatic requirements.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Department:
- University of Wisconsin Law School, Wisconsin Innocence Project (WIP)
Compensation:
The minimum salary for this position is $80,000. Starting salary will depend on experience and qualifications.
This is a grant-funded, four-year position.
This position is initially for one year, but can be extended up to 3 years dependent upon satisfactory performance, available funding and department need. An evaluation period during the first 12 months is required. After the 3rd year, dependent upon available funding and department need, the position may become a renewable (ongoing) academic staff appointment.
Continuation of employment beyond the grant funding period of four years is not guaranteed and is contingent upon the availability of funding.
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Required Qualifications:
- Multiple years of experience in criminal legal practice
- Strong research, writing, and analytic skills
- Strong advocacy skills
- Client-centered approach to legal representation and a demonstrated commitment to indigent defense
- Valid driver's license and ability to drive and travel extensively throughout Wisconsin
- Admission to the Wisconsin Bar or immediate eligibility to apply to the Wisconsin Bar
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience litigating postconviction matters, including claims of wrongful conviction and actual innocence.
- Experience handling cases involving forensic science issues, expert witnesses, or postconviction forensic testing.
- Demonstrated knowledge of forensic disciplines and forensic reliability issues, including DNA evidence, pattern-comparison disciplines, digital evidence, forensic pathology, false confessions, eyewitness identification, or other evidentiary issues that commonly arise in wrongful conviction litigation.
- Prior supervision of law students or other law school teaching experience.
Education:
J.D. Required
How to Apply:
Click the "Apply" button to start the application process.
You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Applicants should attach a cover letter and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process.