The Frank J. Remington Center, a University of Wisconsin Law School clinical program, has an opening for a clinical instructor. The position envisions a candidate who is interested in working as a staff attorney in the Remington Center's Wisconsin Innocence Project (WIP), with responsibility for serving as liaison and advisor to staff attorneys in and private attorneys appointed by the State Public Defender's Appellate Division. In WIP, law students, under clinical faculty supervision, provide legal assistance to prison inmates in Wisconsin and other states in cases in which the inmates have viable claims that they are actually innocent and wrongly convicted. In this position, the attorney will work with other clinical faculty and staff attorneys in and private attorneys appointed by the State Public Defender's Appellate Division to identify and help litigate serious felony cases in which postconviction DNA testing could prove the defendant's innocence. Admission to practice law or eligibility to become licensed in Wisconsin is required. Prior experience, either as a law student or practicing attorney, with criminal law, including postconviction remedies, claims of wrongful conviction, and DNA evidence, is preferred.

The specific duties of the position are as follows:

Work full-time in the Remington Center's Wisconsin Innocence Project as a clinical instructor/staff attorney. Primary responsibilities will be to work with attorneys in and appointed by the State Public Defender's Appellate Division on cases in which postconviction DNA testing could prove innocence. Specific duties are listed below.

a. Work with Remington Center clinical faculty and attorneys in the Appellate Division of the State Public Defender's (SPD) Office to develop and implement protocols for screening SPD postconviction and appellate cases for potential DNA testing, and for taking referrals or arranging consulting relationships on appropriate cases.

b. As determined appropriate, provide direct representation on appointment from the SPD's Office, with or without law student assistance, to investigate and litigate postconviction motions and direct appeals in cases in which DNA testing might prove innocence.

c. As determined appropriate, act as co-counsel or in a consulting capacity with SPD staff attorneys or attorneys appointed by the SPD in postconviction and direct appeal proceedings in cases in which postconviction DNA testing might prove innocence.

d. Develop and implement training for SPD staff and appointed attorneys to help identify cases appropriate for postconviction DNA testing.

e. Conduct other factual investigations, as needed, to assess and develop cases supporting the claims of innocence in identified cases.

f. Attend weekly Remington Center and WIP staff meetings, and WIP advisory board meetings, as scheduled.

g. Attend and assist in teaching the classroom component of the WIP wrongful conviction seminar, as appropriate.

h. Be available on site on a regular basis for consultation with attorneys in the SPD Appellate Division offices in Madison and Milwaukee, and with other appointed attorneys throughout the state.

i. Maintain data on cases screened, investigated, and litigated, and the outcomes of such cases, as well as other data required under the grant funding for this position, and prepare quarterly reports for grant funding source on the progress of the project.

Degree and area of specialization: J.D. or LL.B.

License/certification: Admitted to or eligible to be admitted to the Wisconsin Bar

Minimum number of years and type of relevant work experience: Prior experience, either as a law student or practicing attorney, with criminal law, including postconviction remedies, claims of wrongful conviction, and DNA evidence, is preferred.

Additional Information: This is an 18 month grant-funded position, with a possible extension of 6 months if the grant is continued, for a total possible appointment of 2 years total.