Centurion is a national secular non-profit (501(c)3) organization dedicated to the vindication of the wrongly convicted. It is the first innocence organization in the world. Since 1983, they have freed 66 men and women who were serving life or death sentences for crimes they did not commit. They re-investigate the crime, uncovering lost evidence, finding new evidence, convincing a coerced witness to come forward with the truth, overturning false confessions, and sometimes even finding the real criminal. Centurion takes on the most challenging cases. Centurion is almost always the last hope for the innocent in prison.

There are numerous organizations across the country helping to exonerate the wrongfully imprisoned; however, what is unique about Centurion is that they are not dependent on DNA to obtain exonerations, although when they get DNA or other scientific evidence, they use it. Because they often lack a scientific aspect, the cases Centurion takes on require a thorough field investigation which can take five years or more. Centurion’s investigators travel to the crime scene, locate and interview witnesses face-to-face, convince reluctant witnesses to come forward, search records in courthouses, and talk to everyone who testified for the defense and the prosecution. In this manner, Centurion often discovers evidence that was intentionally hidden from the defense, locates witnesses who were coerced or manipulated, and unearths forensic evidence that was not previously discovered. Centurion receives over 1500 requests a year and works on 20-25 cases at any given time.

For further information, please visit www.centurion.org

POSITION SUMMARY

Centurion seeks a Post-Conviction Attorney in the newly created role of Assistant Legal Director, to work on behalf of wrongfully incarcerated men and women throughout the U.S. The individual in this role must be a passionate advocate for social justice, be willing to work very hard in an arena where the wins are spectacular—as well as rare and hard-won. This position will support the Legal Director in representing Centurion’s clients, manage cases, and collaborate with Centurion’s Case Development and Investigative teams to advance its mission.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Legal Director will engage in all aspects of litigation and case development including:

• Pre-trial, appellate, and post-conviction litigation, including drafting petitions/motions, and all necessary legal components of a petition/motion to vacate a conviction.
• Conducting legal research and analysis.
• Coordinating and collaborating on investigations.
• Collaborating with the Case Development team to evaluate prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims.
• Assisting with the development of litigation strategies.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

This role is an excellent opportunity to work alongside Legal Director, Paul Casteleiro, a national leader in post-conviction work and criminal justice reform who has been working on behalf of Centurion for over 35 years, in partnership with Founder Jim McCloskey and Kate Germond. He has served as Legal Director since 2014 and has been the primary attorney in 18 exonerations of people serving life in prison. 

A leader in exposing false confessions, Paul obtained the first-ever published opinion in New York State that admitted expert testimony on the psychology of police interrogations and false confessions. His other achievements include proposing New Jersey’s law to compensate wrongfully imprisoned people; overturning the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s law admitting hypnotically enhanced testimony in criminal trials; establishing the unreliability of the F.B.I.’s bullet lead composition analysis, which led the FBI to stop offering such testimony.

The new Assistant Legal Director will come to an organization that transitioned to a new Executive Director, Corey Waldron, in 2019, and has grown dramatically. There has been an expansion of the Board of Trustees, an increase in fundraising revenue, and greater public acknowledgment of all that Centurion has achieved. This position will have the opportunity to partner with and learn from Centurion’s post-conviction legal experts and be looked to as a valued member of Centurion’s legal team.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Must have a J.D. and be admitted to practice law in at least one state and that state’s federal district courts and if not currently admitted to practice law in New Jersey to apply for admission and take all necessary steps to be admitted.
• Must be in good standing in all courts and have a clean disciplinary record.
• At least three years of experience litigating criminal or related federal §1983 civil rights cases or other qualifying experience, including judicial clerkships Must be able to gain pro hac vice admission to courts in other states.
• Superlative writing and research skills.
• Strong interpersonal and articulate communication skills to make oral arguments effectively and confidently.
• Familiarity with the legal issues attendant to post-conviction litigation.
• Experience working with racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• A strong commitment to criminal and social justice, the long view on hard-fought legal battles, and the open-mindedness to learn from failed attempts, maintain hope and persevere on behalf of our clients.
• Have an ability to scan the landscape for relevant information and break down complex problems into simple and manageable components.
• Be a hard-working self-starter, have the ability to work independently, and manage multiple competing demands.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary for this position is highly competitive and Centurion provides an excellent benefits package, including health (employer paid), dental and vision insurance, retirement plan matching, and flexible work schedules including part-time remote options.

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

 Centurion recognizes that its diversity is critical to its organization’s success. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is Centurion’s policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other category protected by law.