The Job
We are hiring a full-time investigator/mitigation specialist for our Knoxville office, Capital Habeas Unit (CHU). The CHU represents clients in federal courts in Tennessee and clients in six states who have been sentenced to death by state or federal courts.
Duties
CHU investigators/mitigation specialists work collaboratively with a team of attorneys, paralegals, and other investigators/mitigation specialists under the supervision of the CHU supervising assistant federal defender. This position is responsible for identifying, locating, and interviewing witnesses; completing fact and mitigation investigations in support of habeas and clemency efforts; and identifying, collecting, and reviewing a vast array of records. We expect all members of the client’s team to contribute to strategy discussions. Investigators/ mitigation specialists are expected to take ownership over cases; proactively brainstorm, propose, and complete creative investigation tasks; and comply with the ABA standards for capital mitigation specialists.
Salary & Benefits
Salary is commensurate with years of experience and qualifications in accordance with the Defender Organization Classification System and the Federal Judicial Salary Plan (JSP). The current starting salary range is $74,678 to $163,514 annually.
FDSET offers a generous benefits package, which includes paid vacation and sick leave, 11+ paid annual holidays, medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, long-term disability, EAP, HSA/FSA, hospital, critical illness, accident, identify theft protection, and 401K retirement. FDSET provides medical (employee-only plans), dental, vision, basic life/AD&D, and long-term disability at no monthly premium cost to employees.
A partial remote work week is available to employees after an initial probationary period.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work or a related field such as anthropology, psychology, sociology, or criminal justice. An advanced or graduate degree in social work or related field is preferred. Candidates must have at least three years of experience conducting fact and/or mitigation investigations, preferably in the criminal justice arena. Experience in capital habeas, non-capital habeas, or capital post-conviction work is preferred. Applicants must possess substantial investigative skills to assist in a team approach to planning and developing litigation strategies and in investigating, analyzing, and developing fact and mitigation evidence.
Applicants should possess excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to establish and maintain good working relationships, and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing and as a witness in court proceedings. This is a very active position that requires initiative and creative thinking by a self-starter without the need for substantial attorney oversight.
Because of the geographic location of our clients, extensive travel is required. Overnight travel for client visits and investigative trips may be needed up to two to three times a month. Applicants must have a driver’s license and appropriate motor vehicle insurance.
Qualified individuals may apply by sending ALL the following documents in a combined PDF file to [email protected] by Monday, October 26, 2026.
(1) Cover Letter
(2) Resume
(3) Three References
(4) Writing Sample
An email confirming receipt of the application materials will be sent to all applicants. Only those selected for interviews will receive further communication.
FDSET VALUES A DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
