The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania is accepting applications for the position of Investigator/Mitigation Specialist to join the defense team in a federal capital case. This position is fully remote, and candidates may reside anywhere in the United States. It is open to full-time or part-time work. This is a term appointment expected to last for the duration of the capital case.
The Investigator/Mitigation Specialist is a core member of the capital defense team and works under the direction of learned counsel to conduct the fact and mitigation investigation required in a federal death-penalty prosecution. The Investigator/Mitigation Specialist develops a comprehensive, multigenerational social history of the client; locates and interviews family members, lay witnesses, and fact witnesses; identifies, collects, and analyzes records from every institution that has touched the client’s life; identifies and works with mental health and other experts; reviews discovery and develops theories of defense and mitigation; visits crime scenes; assists in preparation for pretrial litigation, trial, and the penalty phase; and testifies in court when required. The successful candidate will be expected to perform this work consistent with the ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases and the Supplementary Guidelines for the Mitigation Function of Defense Teams in Death Penalty Cases. The Investigator/Mitigation Specialist must be able to establish trusting relationships with the client and the client’s family, maintain good working relationships with individuals and agencies (including detention facilities), provide clear oral and written reports, and use technology including case-management software, cameras, and other equipment. A strong preference will be given to candidates with prior federal capital trial experience and demonstrated expertise in both fact and mitigation investigation. Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is preferred but not required.
An applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent; a bachelor’s or graduate degree in social work, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or a related field is preferred but not required. Prior experience developing and analyzing mitigation evidence in capital proceedings is strongly preferred, as is experience with trauma-informed interviewing, social history development, and records analysis. A variety of experience, including in non-legal fields and/or social work, paralegal, or legal assistant training, would be helpful. The ability to read, write, and speak fluently in the Spanish or Portuguese language is preferred but not required.
This position requires considerable initiative, resourcefulness, creativity, and drive; excellent writing skills; computer proficiency; the ability to communicate and work well with others; and a commitment to obtaining justice for indigent persons. The successful applicant can analyze and evaluate facts, evidence, and related information, and can manage a demanding caseload-driven schedule independently from a remote location. Because this is a remote position, applicants must have a suitable, private workspace and reliable high-speed internet access; the office will provide necessary computer equipment and secure access to office systems.
This position requires regular travel for team meetings, client visits, and court proceedings, and to wherever the client’s family members, witnesses, and records are located. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license. Travel expenses are reimbursed in accordance with federal judiciary travel regulations.
Interested applicants are invited to apply by submitting a single pdf document that includes a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample (preferably a redacted social history summary, interview memorandum, or other mitigation work product) via email to the attention of: Elisa A. Long, Federal Public Defender, [email protected], Subject: 2026-15. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are seeking full-time or part-time work and describe your prior capital and mitigation experience.
For complete information, please visit our website here: https://paw.fd.org/employment
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