Job Description

Staff Attorney, the Innocence Project, School of Law

The Innocence Project at the University of Virginia School of Law seeks a staff attorney to supervise teams of law students who help screen, investigate, and litigate wrongful convictions in Virginia. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, the Law School is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity, and community service. The Innocence Project at UVA School of Law identifies, investigates, and litigates wrongful conviction cases in Virginia and advocates for policy reform. The staff attorney manages the volunteer/pro-bono clinic students, under the supervision and with the assistance of Innocence Project Clinic directors Jennifer L. Givens and Juliet Hatchett. The staff attorney's primary role is to supervise student teams working on individual cases, and oversee the investigation, litigation, and related advocacy for each case. The staff attorney will also be asked to assist with efforts to increase public awareness of wrongful convictions. Given the responsibilities of the position, the staff attorney must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as be able to work effectively with individuals from varied cultural, economic and personal backgrounds.

Specific duties of this position include:

• Supervise weekly team meetings; teach students how to collect relevant legal documents and investigate the case in the field; set up and oversee phone calls and meetings with clients and potential witnesses; teach students how to make and possibly litigate FOIA requests; oversee legal research; and draft relevant pleadings such as petitions for writs of habeas corpus, petitions for writs of actual innocence, requests for conditional and absolute pardons, and requests for parole.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for their cases' clients, witnesses, and other involved parties.
• Oversee the intake process and manage students who are evaluating potential cases.
• Supervise and manage teams of students working on policy/reform issues or communication/outreach/development issues.
• Work with the clinic directors on other litigation matters as needed, including pending litigation to which no student team is assigned.
• Assist with efforts to raise public awareness of wrongful convictions.

Required Education and Experience:

• J.D. from an ABA approved law school or foreign equivalent and be an active member of a state bar in good standing (VA bar admission preferred).
• Able to travel domestically, mostly in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with evening and weekend work as needed.
• Have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant practice experience in criminal post-conviction proceedings (as an attorney or summer intern).

Application review will begin on January 5, 2026. Apply online at . Complete the application, and upload the following required materials:

• Cover letter
• CV/resume
• Names and contact information for three professional references

*** Please note that ALL REQUESTED documents MUST be uploaded in the resume submission field, and you can combine documents into one PDF. ***

**Applications that do not have all the required documents will not receive full consideration.***

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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