Job Description
The Staff Attorney will represent clients in a variety of legal areas, including LFO remission, relief under State v. Blake, criminal record vacation, and registration relief for people convicted of sex offenses. Although direct client representation will comprise most of the Staff Attorney’s role, the Staff Attorney will also spend time on other types of work. The Staff Attorney will have opportunities lead larger projects, such as Civil Survival’s mass assistance events, coordinate community events in the community and in DOC facilities, or intern hiring and supervision. They will also present periodic trainings to impacted communities and legal professionals on a variety of reentry legal aid topics.
Civil Survival is committed to balancing individual client representation with systemic advocacy to expand opportunities for people harmed by the criminal legal system. Accordingly, in collaboration with the broader legal team, the Staff Attorney will identify opportunities for and engage in systemic advocacy, such appellate litigation, legislation review, court rule reform, etc.
The ideal candidate will be excited to directly assist clients with reentry legal aid needs, while also creating and managing systems, such as mass assistance days, that offer opportunities for widescale relief. Experience in reentry legal aid is preferred, but not required. Applicants should be skilled in managing a high-volume legal practice, ensuring that motions are filed in a timely way and clients are regularly updated on the status of their cases. Strong candidates will have experience managing legal assistance programs and relationships with key external stakeholders, including court personnel, other attorneys, and communities directly affected by the criminal legal system. The ideal candidate will be motivated to help those most frequently disadvantaged by the criminal legal system including those with disabilities, people of color, and individuals who face the greatest barriers to self-advocacy.
Qualifications
Lived experience within the criminal legal system is preferred.
Member, in good standing, of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA); or ability to quickly obtain APR 8(c) or APR 9 admission, with full WSBA admission by December 2026.
The ability to independently and efficiently learn new legal practice areas and offer representation with a high level of competence.
Experience in some or all the following practice areas is preferred: legal financial obligation relief, criminal record vacation, relief under State v. Blake, relief from registration for those convicted of sex offenses, impact litigation, and appellate advocacy.
An ability to manage a high-volume legal practice, ensuring that motions are filed in a timely way and clients are regularly updated on the status of their cases.
Strong legal research and writing skills.
Experience creating self-help materials and presenting self-help trainings to impacted communities is preferred.
An ability to identify systemic barriers to reentry and create impact litigation, appellate advocacy, policy, or rulemaking strategies to address those barriers.
Policy advocacy and organizing skills are preferred, including the ability to analyze legislation, court rules, and administrative procedures.
Strong organization skills. The Staff Attorney should be able to manage multiple projects, ensuring that tasks are completed in a timely manner and lower-priority items do not slip through the cracks.
Ability to take a project from conception through planning to completion. Ability to balance taking the initiative with ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are included in program discussions.
Familiarity and strong relationships with local policymakers, community leaders, and marginalized communities are preferred.
A deep commitment to growth in a trauma-informed, anti-racist organization.
An understanding and empathy with the stresses experienced by clients who are impacted by poverty, mental illness, disabilities, unstable housing, substance use disorder, domestic violence, and other barriers. Ability to help these clients engage in their own representation through the principles of harm-reduction—meeting clients where they are, in a way that is responsive to their specific needs.
Demonstrated cultural competence and sensitivity in working with diverse clients, communities, and colleagues.
Strong ability to work collaboratively is required. The successful applicant will have strong conflict management skills and be able to tactfully engage with external partners.
Full professional proficiency in Spanish is preferred.
How To Apply
Please submit the following to our Hiring Committee at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with an initial review of applicants on September 14th, 2026. Materials submitted through LinkedIn, Indeed, or any job posting site will not be accepted. The email subject line should clearly reference “Civil Survival Staff Attorney.”
Letter of interest: The letter of interest should include a description of how your skills and experience will allow you to perform the job qualifications. We value lived experience in the criminal legal system and applicants may share any lived experience in their letter of interest.
Resumé.
One legal writing sample, unedited by others, of no more than five pages. You may excerpt a portion of brief, memo, or other work product to meet the page requirement.
Names and contact information for three professional references. Professional references will not be contacted until the conclusion of the interview process.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
