The Private Counsel Division of the State Appellate Defender Office seeks motivated and qualified applicants to work with incarcerated clients who are newly eligible for resentencing hearings under the Michigan Supreme Court’s recent landmark ruling in People v Czarnecki and People v Taylor. Approximately 580 incarcerated Michiganders who were once sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (LWOP) for homicide offenses that occurred when they were 19 or 20 years old are now entitled to resentencing. SADO is hiring limited-term mitigation staff to provide support to the private counsel roster attorneys who represent these individuals.
This is a full-time, limited-term position with funding allocated through September 30, 2026. Continuation of this position beyond that date is contingent on future budget allocations.
Roster attorneys are assigned to represent and advocate for individuals who are serving unconstitutionally cruel and/or unusual life sentences for crimes committed as youth. Their clients are adults--some are still adjusting to life in prison as young adults, while others have lived several decades behind bars. Mitigation Specialists are a crucial part of the defense team and work with attorneys and clients to develop mitigating information for new sentencing hearings. Mitigation specialists perform a variety of functions with the end goal of helping to obtain release for their clients. These resentencing proceedings, which generally occur years, if not decades, after the conviction and original sentencing, require intensive long-term mitigation investigation, and culminate in complex resentencing hearings.
Mitigation specialists are supervised and trained by the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS) Administrator. This position can be based out of SADO’s Detroit or Lansing office. The position requires extensive travel (about 20% of the time) and offers a flexible hybrid work policy.
Job Responsibilities
Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
• Interview, and build rapport with incarcerated clients to learn about their background, the facts of the offense, current experiences while incarcerated, and specific needs upon release;
• Identify, locate, and interview family, friends, community members, and other individuals to compile material in mitigation of sentence;
• Travel extensively throughout Michigan and occasionally out of state to visit clients in prison and interview witnesses;
• Obtain, analyze, and summarize records and documents, including prison records, social files, school records, and medical and mental health records;
• Prepare reports, including client and witness interview memos, social history reports, and sentencing memoranda, using creative writing and storytelling techniques;
• Identify support for clients transitioning back into the community;
• Identify and consult with appropriate experts to obtain reports and prepare for hearings;
• Prepare clients for testifying in court or presenting allocution;
• In limited circumstances, testify in court;
• Train attorneys and staff on mitigation and parole hearings; and
• Assist attorneys with general hearing preparation such as preparing exhibits, coordinating with witnesses, attending court hearings, and other necessary tasks.
Qualifications
Mitigation Specialists draw from a diverse range of professional, academic, and life experiences to inform their work. Mitigation specialists must be empathetic communicators, effective interviewers, curious investigators, critical readers, data managers, creative writers, compassionate listeners, and zealous advocates. At SADO we are dedicated to building a multi-disciplinary team with diverse perspectives and experiences, so if you are excited about this role but you do not meet every qualification in this job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the job.
Education:
• Education and/or equivalent experience in social work, social sciences, psychology, forensic psychology, journalism, anthropology, criminal justice, or a related field;
Commitments:
• Commitment to client-centered, zealous advocacy;
• Commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of clients;
• Commitment to cultural humility and cultural competency;
Knowledge and Abilities:
• Knowledge of the criminal legal system, preferably in Michigan;
• Experience in investigation;
• Excellent communication, trauma-informed interviewing, and interpersonal skills;
• Understanding of mental health signs and symptoms, the effects of trauma, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and the impacts of social, cultural, historical, political, religious, racial, environmental, and ethnic influences on behavior;
• Ability to prioritize multiple client cases, deadlines, and demands;
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, nights, and early mornings, and to travel throughout the state to attend hearings, meet with incarcerated clients, interview witnesses, and obtain mitigation material;
• Possess a valid driver’s license;
• Ability to organize, interpret, and synthesize large quantities of information into persuasive, compelling, and thorough written narratives;
• Flexible and creative thinking;
• The ability to work as part of the defense team under the lead of the case attorney, and maintain confidentiality;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, Excel, and general office equipment; and
• Self-motivated, with the ability to handle constructive feedback.
Submit a resume and a cover letter via email by November 23, 2025, to [email protected] and include “MAACS Mitigation Specialist 2025-21” in the subject line. Applications without a resume and cover letter will not be considered.
The cover letter should address the reasons underlying your interest in the work of the Juvenile Lifer Unit and explain your commitment to working with incarcerated people and people convicted of crimes.
SADO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
