Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts Attorney Fellowship, Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts (PLS)

Deadline: March 01, 2018

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JOB TYPE

Full Time

SALARY

Details: The fellowship is available for a two-year term. Compensation includes a competitive salary, plus generous benefits.

PUBLISHED

01/29/2018

APPLICATION DEADLINE

03/01/2018

ADDRESS

10 Winthrop Square, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
United States

DESCRIPTION

Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts (PLS) is pleased to announce the availability of a two year in-house fellowship for an experienced attorney.

PLS is a nonprofit public interest law firm founded in 1972 that provides free legal services to individuals incarcerated in Massachusetts prisons and jails. The core mission of PLS is to protect the human and civil rights of Massachusetts prisoners. With a small and dynamic staff which includes fifteen attorneys, paralegals and support personnel, we engage in individual and class action litigation; provide direct administrative advocacy relating to incarceration and parole; initiate and support legislation to reform the correctional system, and work with the media and community organizations to educate the public about criminal justice issues. 

PLS priority areas include medical and mental health care, staff use of excessive force, reform of solitary confinement, and redressing unlawful conditions of confinement. Recent litigation has focused on PLS priority areas and discrimination against prisoners with disabilities.  More detailed information is available at www.plsma.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • All phases of affirmative litigation concerning prison and jail conditions, including factual investigation, discovery, document review, written and oral advocacy, settlement and trial practice, and enforcement and compliance monitoring.

  • Client representation and advocacy with prisons, jails and other state agencies.

  • Visits to, telephone contact and correspondence with clients.

  • Policy advocacy on issues affecting incarcerated persons.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Admission to (or eligibility to become a member of) the Massachusetts bar.

  • A minimum of three years litigation experience, one year of which may be a judicial clerkship, that must include a combination of significant experience conducting depositions, examining witnesses, motion practice, or engaging in oral arguments at the trial or appellate level.

  • Excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills. 

  • Excellent verbal communication skills; bilingual skills in Spanish, American Sign Language, or other language preferred, but not essential. 

  • Ability to manage a high volume of cases and other matters.

  • Collegiality and an ability to work both independently and as a part of teams, which may include co-workers, pro bono lawyers, and other organizations.

LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Bilingual skills in Spanish, American Sign Language, or other language preferred, but not essential.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL

None specified

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED

No requirement

HOW TO APPLY

lrydzewski@plsma.org

To be considered for the fellowship, please submit the following materials:

  • Cover letter

  • Resume

  • Legal writing sample

  • List of three references and their contact information

Please send all documents attached to a single email to lrydzewski@plsma.org with the subject line “Attorney Fellowship Application.” No phone inquiries, please.

Read more and apply here!