The Georgia Justice Project (GJP) is a 32-year-old non-profit located in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. GJP’s mission statement: Georgia Justice Project strengthens our community by demonstrating a better way to represent and support individuals in the criminal justice system and reduce barriers to reentry. GJP promotes innovative change through direct legal representation, policy advocacy, education, and coalition building.
GJP’s work spans three primary areas:
1. Criminal Records Representation (statewide);
2. Advocacy and Education (statewide); and
3. Holistic Criminal Defense (Fulton and DeKalb Counties)
GJP is funded primarily through private donations and currently has 17 staff members including the following: lawyers, social workers, paralegals, and development and administrative staff.
GJP is seeking a full-time staff attorney that will represent people facing legal barriers as a result of their criminal history and assist with advocacy and education.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Client Services:
• Assist clients with record restriction (expungement), sealing, corrections, pardons and other matters related to their criminal history
• Assist with screening and selection of potential clients
• Plan and execute legal research and legal strategy needed for representation
• Communicate with potential employers and other decision-makers on clients’ behalf
• Communicate with clients regularly and maintain client files reflecting all activity related to legal case
• Assist with assessing the legal needs of inmates at the Metro Reentry Facility
• Work with the legal team to address civil legal needs of inmates who will be released from the Metro Reentry Facility (driver’s license reinstatement, resolving outstanding warrants, etc.)
• Prepare and present status reports on cases and clients
• Ensure effective implementation of criminal records laws around the state (including communicating with clerks and prosecutors and filing appeals as necessary)
• Potentially maintain a small criminal defense caseload or step in to assist with criminal cases as necessary
Education & Advocacy:
• Make presentations to directly affected people, service providers, attorneys, and other interested community members about legal barriers to reentry (involves occasional travel)
• Help coordinate GJP’s role in record restriction events around the state
• Assist with developing materials and trainings related to record restriction events
• Assist with planning and implementing education events for employers on criminal records issues
• Assist with drafting educational materials and website content
• Assist with research and writing related to GJP’s policy agenda
Organization tasks:
• Represent the organization to various communities and constituencies as requested
• Work collaboratively with other program staff on behalf of clients and to accomplish the mission of the organization
• Assist other departments in organizational projects as needed and attend all GJP functions
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Licensed Attorney with the State Bar of Georgia
• A demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice and an understanding of how poverty and race factor into the criminal justice system
• Ability to advocate assertively and effectively for low-income individuals who have a criminal record
• Ability to interact respectfully with diverse groups of people
• Excellent written communication and research skills
• Two years of criminal defense or civil litigation experience (criminal records work lies at the intersection of criminal and civil legal representation)
• Experience with public speaking to diverse audiences
• Experience in recruiting and working with student interns and volunteers
• Willingness to perform administrative tasks such as copying and obtaining documents from the court (GJP does not have an administrative support staff)
• Enthusiasm and energy for the difficult work of reforming the criminal justice system
• The ability to effectively manage the multiple priorities and fast pace of a non-profit workplace
• Driver’s license (required)
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume and a brief writing sample to [email protected] as soon as possible and no later than July 15th, 2018. Subject line must state, “Staff Attorney Position.” No phone calls please.