Job o’ the Day: Staff Attorney with Texas Defender Services in Austin!
Texas Defender Service (TDS) is a private, non-profit law firm recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Founded in 1995, TDS’s mission is to help improve the quality of representation afforded to indigent Texans charged with a capital crime or under sentence of death.
The Austin office is currently accepting applications for a staff attorney. From the PSJD job listing:
Texas Defender Service (TDS) seeks an experienced attorney with excellent legal skills and a demonstrated commitment to indigent defense to represent inmates in capital post-conviction proceedings in Texas. The attorney will be responsible for developing and litigating claims in both state and federal habeas corpus proceedings, conducting evidentiary hearings and participating in litigation on behalf of inmates under warrants of execution. Given the nature of capital representation, the attorney should expect to work some evenings, weekends and holidays. Travel throughout Texas is required.
TDS is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the Texas criminal justice system by reducing unfair use of the death penalty and by implementing an effective indigent defense system. In addition to providing quality direct representation, the TDS Capital Post-Conviction Project tracks the cases of death-sentenced inmates in Texas, assists and trains capital habeas attorneys and provides crisis assistance to defense teams whose clients are facing execution dates. Attorneys are fortunate to work with the larger capital habeas community, which is composed of highly committed and talented lawyers.
This is a full-time position and the attorney hired may choose to live in Austin or Houston.
TDS will consider applicants with little experience if they have superior legal skills, a strong work ethic and a willingness and ability to learn quickly. The application deadline is January 15, 2013. For more information on qualifications and application instructions, view the full job listing at PSJD.org (log-in required).