Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney

The Prison Law Office•Berkeley, CA

2d•$134,055 - $265,903•Hybrid

About The Position

The Prison Law Office (PLO) is a leading organization in prison conditions litigation, dedicated to defending the rights of incarcerated individuals through class action lawsuits, monitoring, and education. Beyond litigation and advocacy, PLO collaborates with correctional agencies to implement practical and sustainable reforms aimed at improving conditions of confinement. Staff Attorneys and Senior Staff Attorneys are integral to PLO's litigation and advocacy efforts, leading individual and class action cases from inception to resolution. They are also heavily involved in the post-trial monitoring of long-term institutional reform cases. The role demands excellent legal judgment, strong client-centered advocacy, and a commitment to advancing civil and human rights within carceral settings. This position requires frequent travel to prisons, jails, and immigration detention centers, as well as close collaboration with colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders.

Requirements

At least three years of experience as a practicing attorney.
Significant experience developing and litigating complex civil cases.
Admission to the California Bar, plans to sit for the next California Bar Exam, or eligibility to participate in California’s Multijurisdictional Practice (MJP) Program.
Experience or interest in criminal legal system matters.
Excellent analytical, legal research, and writing skills.
Excellent oral advocacy skills, with both legal and non-legal audiences.
Excellent communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to problem-solve, exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and work independently.
Demonstrated ability to interact cooperatively, professionally, and effectively with co-workers, clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and jail/prison staff and administrators.
Experience working and communicating with marginalized or vulnerable communities.
Demonstrated ability to mentor paraprofessional staff, legal fellows, and law student interns, and, for the Senior Staff Attorney role, other Staff Attorneys.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as counsel on individual and class action litigation on behalf of people in prisons, jails, and immigration detention centers.
Participate in all phases of litigation, including factual investigation, discovery, motion practice, settlement negotiations, trial, and appellate work.
Conduct interviews with incarcerated clients, witnesses, and correctional staff.
Engage in and develop post-trial remedial monitoring and remedial litigation to enforce compliance with court orders and decrees.
Lead tours of correctional facilities to assess conditions of confinement and monitor compliance.
Research and draft high-quality legal pleadings, briefs, motions, and other advocacy materials.
Maintain regular communication with clients and class members with empathy and professionalism and in line with legal strategy.
Collaborate with PLO team members, co-counsel, and partner organizations on litigation and advocacy strategy.
Oversee and direct the work of paraprofessional staff (including investigators, special assistants, and litigation assistants) on assigned matters and provide constructive feedback.
Supervise law student interns, legal fellows, and paraprofessional staff and provide constructive feedback.
Comply with PLO’s hybrid work policies and required travel expectations.
Lead complex, high-impact litigation on behalf of incarcerated people and serve as a primary architect of litigation and remedial strategy in individual and class action matters (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Exercise advanced judgment in high-stakes negotiations with state, local, and federal officials and opposing counsel (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Take a lead role in shaping post-trial remedial frameworks and long-term compliance strategies (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Serve as a thought partner to PLO management on litigation priorities, case development, risk assessment, and legal strategy (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Represent PLO in external legal, policy, and advocacy settings as needed as a senior organizational representative (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Manage all phases of litigation, including factual investigation, pleadings, motion practice, discovery, settlement negotiations, trial, and appellate work (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Guide post-trial remedial strategy and reform efforts to ensure meaningful and durable outcomes (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Provide consistent mentorship, coaching, and feedback for Staff Attorneys, legal fellows, law student interns, and paraprofessional staff (including investigators, special assistants, and litigation assistants) working with the attorney on assigned matters (Senior Staff Attorney only).
Supervise Staff Attorneys, legal fellows, law student interns, and paraprofessional staff (Senior Staff Attorney only).