Habeas Law Fellow -- PA

The Community Justice Project (CJP) seeks a one-year, internally-funded Habeas law fellow. The law fellow may work remotely, but must be based in Pennsylvania, with the ability to regularly attend hearings in federal courts throughout the state, especially in the Middle and Western Districts of PA.

The law fellow will assist clients in immigration detention to assert their civil statutory and constitutional rights. Principally, the law fellow will be responsible for filing and arguing habeas petitions in federal district court, with the goal of obtaining release of wrongly-detained clients. The law fellow will also handle bond hearings.

The law fellow must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communications skills and should be a self-starter. A demonstrated commitment to the low-income client community and ability to travel across the state to appear in various federal courts is also essential. Spanish or other second language proficiency is preferred but not required.

CJP is a statewide legal aid program that is part of Pennsylvania’s Legal Aid Network, but it does not receive Legal Services Corporation funding. It specializes in class action and other impactful litigation and advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania’s low-income residents. CJP conducts broad advocacy in all forms and subject areas, which include civil rights, employment, housing, community development, consumer, immigration, immigrant rights, and public benefits. CJP works with local legal aid programs across the state, but it also does its own community outreach from offices in Reading, Hazleton, Scranton, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh.

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, and writing sample to Marielle Macher at mmacher@cjplaw.org. Salary is commensurate with experience. CJP’s entry level salary for barred attorneys is $64,500.

The Community Justice Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Fluent English-Spanish preferred, but not essential.